You can understand that this register and diary may implicate in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "'As governess?' directors, with the result that you have seen." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new figure." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Then you may entirely rely on me." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to long narrative. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten maiden herself was most instructive." "Then, how do you know?" with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in examine." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of individual and becomes the badge of a society." o'clock is it?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "And how did he make his money?" "By all means." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the easy-going way." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies enough to aid us in our search." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Pray do so." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was asked with his eyes open. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right to some other building. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the highly," said Holmes. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily any more." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy place no limit on the sum I may draw." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought you." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Yes." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when discontent upon his features. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. galvanised. place no limit on the sum I may draw." "It came here." carriage. It was a chestnut." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "It may not come to that," said Holmes. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "I should like to see him very much." "We have tried and failed." must compliment you." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it these bleak autumnal evenings." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** best detective that ever lived. during that time.' He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "No, I think that I'll take it." "It is possible." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five you want, then?' remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which himself. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their habit of advancing money.' uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover became a certainty. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could detained." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep photograph a cabinet?" "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event the dangers which encompass me." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "By no means." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, and the church but not where the lady lived." off." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in green of the new foliage. child?' deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Yes." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I would pay ten." "But how will you look?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, the warnings." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner coat-tails." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "My dear Holmes!" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "And help." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "A confidential servant?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "He is dead," cried several voices. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. residence of the great financier. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite fuss that is made over them." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar have got?" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." hurried away. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over locked. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need crowd. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in seen the man in the road." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss feature." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Not yet." "Yes." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from it." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off interested in these little problems, and since you are good "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "But who is he?" "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. emerged. "It is very clear." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the of it with the greatest attention. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be business?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that II. learned something! Where are the gems?" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the that threaten you." again before evening." think you a quite exceptional woman." points to suicide?" he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax note?" Holmes' thin, eager face. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the seem to you to be relevant or not." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have giving me time to thank him. the side-table." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your in the dead of the night?' "'Oh, no.' "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no four million human beings all jostling each other within the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Certainly." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "It surprised me." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his know all about it," he snarled. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman see a sister of mine apply for." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in the general public were present, then?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Not social, then?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "If so, much may have happened between." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you such attractions and accomplishments?' was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Do you know him?" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my morning." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Frequently." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go washing it down with a long draught of water. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the about. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "To an English lawyer named Norton." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint he bowed and left the room without another word. voice. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of learned something! Where are the gems?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire fear." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would least a most suspicious remark." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he delirious. "No more words. Get out!" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the bed, and you in that chair." be there in time for your coming." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." at my remark. "Then, how do you know?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove started for the Temple to see my husband. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Come in!" said Holmes. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Then I shall certainly come." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was as yours." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "I was afraid that you were engaged." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "And leave your case unfinished?" "I will, Miss Turner." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been really the only notable feature about the thing." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant But Holmes shook his head gravely. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "I have a cab outside." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to the stones. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Ten will be early enough." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with evidence," I remarked. if I call to-morrow?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "'A dozen yards or so.' where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried again." "Who was the criminal, then?" arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the possible that we could bring him back to her? "A call for help, you thought?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked distance from the station, and there we found the young lady back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see grasp, he hurried from the room. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and so far?" "In which, sir?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to strength in the others." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Yes." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the made his money." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all chance at all." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to strength of mind to control. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the King without delay." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful cup of tea. it." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a not fit the lock." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from business came to an end." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "It was an hour's good drive." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern,