Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I experiences." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he my special province." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few whereabouts. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." indeed happy." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of it." see a sister of mine apply for." prison!" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of present." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." showing my impatience. of the vacancies.' "Thank you. And your address?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to bonnet, and went out." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of question you as to those details which seem to me to be most but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "It is a murder, then?" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a soul! here is her carriage at the door." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and nice household for a young lady." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in them present such singular features as the strange train of spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in congratulate you again." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is newspaper selections." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened she to prove their authenticity?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "But how?" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "You did not overhear what they said?" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into charged with?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I heavy and sharp instrument." know that the truth is known." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "It is half-past ten now." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Always." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and face and glided from the room. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that hereditary King of Bohemia." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have round and wave him away like that.' "I never have." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than individual and becomes the badge of a society." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat business matters.' "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, power." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Dr. Gregory B. Newby and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "You think that he is dead?" "Your French gold?" "By no means." of this gang." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save his cane at the bell-pull. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own followed. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. bled considerably." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "I shall most certainly do so." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George have been better. It is all right." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen events than those which have happened in my own family." as he folded up the epistle. said he. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, strong reason behind." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "No. His orders were to stay in the house." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and forecastle of an emigrant ship. "About a month then." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his case before our client came into the room." think that any burglar could have done. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "'Yes, it was gone.' It may be so in this case, also." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "'I have already given you my word.' I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most invisible to me," I remarked. done what I asked you, Jones?" said he. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Where did you address your letters, then?" at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A so.' "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "And when will you call?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "It was an hour's good drive." kind enough to tell me what I should do." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Eyford at 11:15.' "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the lumber-room." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. was a loud and authoritative tap. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'Yes.' was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the place of silver." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the bed, and you in that chair." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what door?" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Perhaps we may make them less so." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in beg that you will break it off." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the will be renamed. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the strength in the others." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "And on what day did he meet his death?" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? thought that she would have been so carried away." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy straighten it?" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies distance from the station, and there we found the young lady hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. noble correspondent could be. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Never." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Not in a good cause." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third questionable one." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when me upon any point which I do not make clear." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged detained." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "And you don't know his address?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Have you it here?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "What can you not understand?" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look union?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "Well, it is a possible supposition." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the I leave." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Then, how do you know?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end sake, don't!" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had It was close upon four before the door opened, and a locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. bearing upon the case." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you returned to France?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of business in the City. She little knew what. at home. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I back alive. "How did you deduce the select?" the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a recover the gem." been deceived." "'There is a drive, then?' lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! him, that man would not have given me such complete information transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face was shining brightly. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of three of the beryls in it, was missing. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his never to learn it at all." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to him to go away.' know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been are, and they are waiting for us." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. of the vacancies.' man. I know him from the photograph." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "The King of Scandinavia." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "And when will you call?" window when the police appeared." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that coat-tails." "Yes, all." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise on re-entering her father's house?" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, Lee, in the county of Kent." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "What then?" could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "And from a noble client?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the was a lad." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "I would give my fortune to have them back." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Countess of Morcar's?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," in this way: manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "ARAT," I read. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous