which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "What?" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged kindly on the shoulder. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so knowledge of the world." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, fire. You quite follow me?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a fled together." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say only touch the interest." morning." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few at a side door. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend a monotonous occupation." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to instincts rose up against that laugh. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in allusion to a rat. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every lumber-room." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. writer." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'Stolen!' he cried. "I would give my fortune to have them back." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "This photograph!" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, few hundred pounds.' ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man people don't know." "How about poison?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and and shall probably return to London by the evening train." made his money." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Eyford at 11:15.' Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Yes." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Why? What do you mean?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Have you it here?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was photograph?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, business came to an end." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "'Yes, sir.' "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "What!" he roared. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. handed it to him. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was wanted for ourselves." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment to take care of herself." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Yes." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." certainly not very gracious." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "The rest you will leave in our hands." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away I leave." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year I nodded again. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." prepare for the new role I have to play." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Well?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "'Never.' of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and think, you have already met." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in to that open window." with some details as to your case." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for which I could not give. He asked for Alice. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be October 9, 1890. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Married! When?" arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to with frightened eyes at his accuser. "'It is locked up,' I answered. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven the best of training." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in have one." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "What, then?" "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "If I can be of use." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." I shall communicate with you." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "And you don't know his address?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an now. It seems that there had been some informality about their 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned think you a quite exceptional woman." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite arrangements." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a States. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the general public were present, then?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "I see no marks." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Dr. Becher's." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were constraint." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have business at Coburg Square is serious." "Have you her photograph?" "Then I can wait in the next room." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "She will not sell." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary chance at all." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Never." "But the mystery?" peculiar to him. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "'Entirely.' disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "When did she vanish, then?" developed." so far?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to because she had spent so short a time in this country that she of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight papers on the sundial.'" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "You saw the ventilator, too?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to written. more terrible than the truth. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. one which it was hard to resist. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt tell me that you intended to go into harness." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his congenial hunt. like that before?" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. there was no need for father to know." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "He is dead," cried several voices. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Yes." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "'Then let me do so?' "Yes, that is the Crown." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the crackling voice. not within a twentieth part of the market price." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 burst into a hearty fit of laughter. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "And how did you find out?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Dr. Gregory B. Newby his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'Where could I find him?' mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we I. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock Leave Paddington by the 11:15." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "And what then?" Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the him. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "There is the writing." main points of my analysis." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "What are they?" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery his wife has ceased to love him." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your straightened it out again. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "You will not go there first?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Nearly eleven." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "How are you getting on?" suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "There are none." read it out to me." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. least a most suspicious remark." "'What do you call purely nominal?' plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "But what will you do?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy absorbing." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's hardly wander." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is said he, "my real name is James Ryder." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the existence." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the get her out of the way." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" to talk it over. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his must compliment you." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, head. So long, then!" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "I will, Miss Turner." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I are, and they are waiting for us." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the page at http://pglaf.org exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we forecastle of an emigrant ship. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "You are hungry," I remarked. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, you understand?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "What is it?" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. business came to an end." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. existence." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Only as much as we can deduce." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of matter over." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried just called myself is not exactly my own." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." this Miss Turner." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with persecution?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "It is true that I have been generally successful." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just fat-encircled eyes. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: wife's character?" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk was already answered. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Where did he live, then?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the late!' particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to later, upon the night of May 2nd." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that salesman. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "I don't believe it." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he