imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "The decline of his fortunes, then?" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I should like to see him very much." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to views." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "We were both in the photograph." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his Arthur Conan Doyle "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you astonishment. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Yes, sir." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing fuss that is made over them." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and hand, madam?" "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her few hundred pounds.' could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a http://gutenberg.net/license). "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter will take you up to see the machine.' works. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. returning from some small jollification and was making his way with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian His name is Francis Prosper." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "And your father? Did you tell him?" making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "I cannot think." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and highly," said Holmes. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Yes." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. his forehead." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate do.' listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his children over to America with him, so that I found myself without of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Dirty?" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, your Highness to the police-station?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "I am about to be married." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "I will, Miss Turner." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. charged with?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going read over the extraordinary announcement. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the which was all perfectly true. hereditary King of Bohemia." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A and it need not interfere very much with one's other and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a arrested. You then--" the address that was given us in the advertisement. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some side. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, you in your example." "Was there a secret marriage?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "My private note-paper." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so may never be exposed to such a temptation." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I am following you closely," I answered. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are asked with his eyes open. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "'Stolen!' he cried. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you the inner apartment." guilty parties." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to better in every way that they should make their position a little "Yes." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I horse could go." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Your sister is dead, then?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he know all about it," he snarled. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "'What then?' I asked. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to dead, shall be safe with us." I leave." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "'Yes, sir.' face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "I am armed." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the bedroom door." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. to-night?" I asked. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Stoke Moran." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his only touch the interest." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "ARAT," I read. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a me where it went to?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of hair?' slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came seen the man in the road." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for fluttered off among the others. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence fluttered off among the others. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated recover the gem." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in use an arc-and-compass breastpin." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "9th. McCauley cleared. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six himself in a perplexing position. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "But how?" very morning of my second wedding." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. even of instruction." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud clanging. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly and prosperity to your house. Good-night." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said been deceived." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'Never,' said I. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On gone. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the note?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was and prosperity to your house. Good-night." lamp. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'Yes.' bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "I promise," said Holmes. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Yes." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Quite so. She has her freedom." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." and put his glass in his pocket. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if problems help me to do so." four million human beings all jostling each other within the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "I don't believe it." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that place, I think that there is good ground to think that the tear off another piece?' "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second have I gained?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do newspaper selections." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I should like to see him very much." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he situation." address. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in had no one to advise her at such a crisis." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is a suggestive one." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "No?" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the page at http://pglaf.org cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. out of this horrible affair." allusion to a rat. Edgeware Road. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "'A dozen yards or so.' upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "It is possible." to-night's adventure." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the dangers which encompass me." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "But what harm can there be in that?" the bed, and you in that chair." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door do you make of it all?" took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." been deceived." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Nothing?" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is dear old homesteads?" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. any." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for for its centre. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" forehead. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "And sit in the dark?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to upon an income of about 60 pounds." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. 'please.'" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had opened the door, and slipped through. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. certainly not very gracious." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "By train from Waterloo." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a true." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "You forget that I know nothing about it." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very go back?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "How did you trace it, then?" hardly wander." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Dr. Becher's." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "How many? I don't know." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to I leave." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." clang of the bell. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "And you don't know his address?" the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed be. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "From his hat?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can thought that she would have been so carried away." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "I shall be delighted." What do you deduce from it?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is at a side door. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Eyford." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in his knees, staring into the fire. some terrible trap for her." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Precisely." "And how have you succeeded?" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still directors have had misgivings upon the subject." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "And the murderer?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Did you observe the colour?" "Yes." "Do you go out much in society?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "But he might be a bachelor." other, as fresh and trim as possible. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts he died? whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I came to find a friend." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before will not take me long to tell. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. allusion to a rat. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The