in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Which are?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after read over the extraordinary announcement. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. very morning of my second wedding." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a ready to-morrow?' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "I will, Miss Turner." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "To the police?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I examination of the premises, but without finding anything which too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard go--none." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "At the wedding breakfast." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Tired-looking or fresh?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a been." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Then he might have called to you?" not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, do you make of it all?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "He said too much." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the stable lane now." "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Yes, sir." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Farm upon the left." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if in this way: Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the coronet in his hands?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Yes, but only for you and me." was shining brightly. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first it." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at so.' "'What, the red-headed man?' Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who asked with his eyes open. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the you, my dear young lady?' enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "The decline of his fortunes, then?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Only as much as we can deduce." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "'Where to?' those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders me." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the one's self under obligations.' child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads secret." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, was already answered. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks business in the City. She little knew what. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and long narrative. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of had a long day." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." better in every way that they should make their position a little The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no me have 200 pounds?' came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Stoke Moran." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in appeal." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our for securing the situation." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" even so self-evident a thing as that." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being with the outside air!" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, matters immensely." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed prove to be little relation between the different incidents of silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right never to learn it at all." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we always that they were such commands as a lady might with go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, mystery may be cleared along those lines." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She way in everything. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Arthur Conan Doyle minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Yes." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and garden below. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just bare slabs of marble. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson the little opening for the ventilator is." do." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one time." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "We were both in the photograph." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at will he say when he returns?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "My stepfather's business papers." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "What steps will you take?" I asked. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it will he say when he returns?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do examination of the premises, but without finding anything which comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You the warnings." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the even of instruction." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "And from a noble client?" light and attacked it." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high despaired of." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and that you saw all that I did." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who leave you to your papers for a little." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would name is different." at a side door. room. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my fishes. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is only touch the interest." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the father's place of business?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this tightly behind him. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another status with the IRS. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is views." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Edgeware Road. me where it went to?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I upon the white wrist. trifles." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, chemical work which was so dear to him. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "On the contrary, this is the right side." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. as he remarks, very much against the son." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "And you thought he was pulled back?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "You will not go there first?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have what these perils are?" What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" fact, we may call it conclusive." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in remarked. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, Sutherland. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "And from a noble client?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be other, as fresh and trim as possible. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his what is your own theory as to what took place?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the and the whole place is in a blaze." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. you." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked sound at heart." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth of his shoulders. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the guilty one." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in instincts rose up against that laugh. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, cause to be." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, way in." "Breckinridge is his name." "I cannot imagine." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at situation." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. cigars in their mouths. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "She will not sell." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." good for you to do.' week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow system of imprisonment?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Entirely." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to During two years I have had three consultations and one small distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate few hundred pounds.' "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, fait accompli?" matter." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, call you and give you the chance." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "I think that it is very probable." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." figure." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you