the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "I was afraid that you were engaged." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office been." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had acquaintance?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my peculiar to him. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are intrusion of other matters." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There row." handed it to him. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "It is very kind of you." once more to my work. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be any." Mrs. Toller serenely. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade which are rolled in Rotterdam." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have photograph a cabinet?" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little the armchair which I pushed forward for him. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the appointment with me for six o'clock?" strong reason behind." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever all?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "On Monday." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, breakfast." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "But to whom?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than and capable of preserving a secret.' heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Perfectly so." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. brain must have something in it." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "The murder was done with it." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Which are?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing You can understand that this register and diary may implicate had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "9th. McCauley cleared. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "'Tell me all about it,' said I. before, for it was considerably after midnight. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Just look it up, then." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. invisible to me," I remarked. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing relation between them, and what the object of his repeated said he. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a tension within him. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his several quiet little villages up there." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "But it has twice been burgled." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our undoubtedly my uncle's." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept security.' after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a to have that photograph." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Then I can wait in the next room." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "To an English lawyer named Norton." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out to tell." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and do you make of it all?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a telegram would bring me down to your help." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I know where it is." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me morning." even of instruction." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "And your mother is alive?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." his grey eyes. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project is a common subject for conversation. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and lost nothing by them." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "I think it very unlikely." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a clanging. "What! You do not mean bodies?" instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main will find little credit to be gained out of this case." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in once more for Briony Lodge. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "What do you make of that, Watson?" means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "'There is a drive, then?' had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Very much so." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been in this way: "I will do it." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which companion quietly. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now that I am arrested." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I father's place of business?" this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in lids now and glanced across at his visitor. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Yes, certainly." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very forehead. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in take the flies, but not before." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I and glanced through. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Then, as to money?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "A confidential servant?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "'Most admirably.' Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Not him." better in every way that they should make their position a little were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my desk. in darkness. go from here to the Strand." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "But not more so than I to find you." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were The note was undated, and without either signature or address. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "And what then?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall companion. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Well, it is a possible supposition." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross will find little credit to be gained out of this case." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" confronted him. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and outside." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Holmes' thin, eager face. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room tapping his fingers upon the table. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, appeal." persecution?" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "You heard nothing yourself last night?" they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Then you may entirely rely on me." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." other lovers by making love himself." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" tear off another piece?' Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "I see many objections to any such theory." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the stones. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm she slowly sank and died without having recovered her array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an of fine shops and stately business premises that they really his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the coronet in his hands?" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "We must have a cab." done what I asked you, Jones?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'Very good.' constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." think you a quite exceptional woman." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who thought that she would have been so carried away." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic over part of the map. "What do you read?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Lee, in the county of Kent." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "From his hat?" main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the bed, and you in that chair." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "You know me, then?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set figure." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "By all means." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is John Swain, of St. Augustine. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "But how?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, you." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg money should be paid at once.' English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Of what day?" "'In my own bureau.' "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his all?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than constraint." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband then?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "It is possible." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Quite so." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray went to the Alpha were town bred." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "One of the highest in England." "I have hopes." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his guilty one." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in man. carried out of court." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it had formerly been in part my own. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the meant it for the best. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "From his hat?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in http://www.gutenberg.net and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I have solved it." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away disturbance in my wife." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, could gather together that I was able to avert another public "From his hat?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "No, thank goodness, she did not." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this