"Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, pierced for earrings?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "No, I am descending." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and conceal it?" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the inner apartment." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "And the cigar-holder?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Look there!" said he. "At the wedding breakfast." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "The Coroner: What do you mean? "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project late!' remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. been shamefully used." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "And for present expenses?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "No, my brougham is waiting." respectable self." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "But you have hopes?" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I that I may have something better before very many minutes are as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting cause to be." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have writer." "You think so, too?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "I was afraid that you were engaged." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Certainly." fluttered off among the others. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was happened." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," maid will bring up your coffee." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "And I say east," said my patient. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before acted in my house last night?" him. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Yes, certainly." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some get her out of the way." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and where Mr. Fordham shows you.' individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was other means.' was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, once more to my work. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large suddenly upon us." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders clanging. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding nice household for a young lady." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which shoulder; "he's all right." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Yes, from Horsham." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "No bad?" happened." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she again." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Then, as to money?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "And you don't know his address?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father bonnet, and went out." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters you, my dear young lady?' backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "'In my own bureau.' "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." sake, don't!" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke figure." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said advice." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "'I shall certainly be there.' interest. They are important, you understand, without being knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "One of his hands." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer official police." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, forebodings. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, been with you?" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'And the work?' "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "The doctor?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully Holmes' room. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his me, and I could not think that his explanation of the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest posted to-day." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that detained." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was outside." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Certainly." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. that you wished to speak to me?' "My last client of the sort was a king." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so hurried away. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and sit on the left-hand side of the driver." passage and a tap at the door. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all lips." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the a room. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Yes, at the mines." locked." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send cigar and let me expound." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "I will, Miss Turner." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Then I can wait in the next room." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this his face. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "If so, much may have happened between." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them works. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Street. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was would then never go into court at all." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the likely to be some crony of the landlady's." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an could not account in any way for the presence of the missing four million human beings all jostling each other within the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Two days later this same performance was gone through under constraint." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "There are none." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it mystery." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes way in everything. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the some terrible trap for her." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to details should find their way into the papers. Inspector of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Henry Baker is a member." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "An enemy?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he throat." yourselves in at night?" been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "So I am. Very much so." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the everything which you would wish to know." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "The murder was done with it." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "You have a clue?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to hand, madam?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and most important business. It is probable that he will be away all horse could go." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon it." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you or other trace. But how on earth--" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this a good hundred miles off by now." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I were unconscious?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to The summons was a brief and urgent one. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, the dangers which encompass me." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble nothing with him." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered Heh?' "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "But we can't all be." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, photograph a cabinet?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary held up the lantern and gazed about him. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in that you wished to speak to me?' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Ample." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the nursery. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." friend's singular character. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has But Holmes shook his head gravely. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who way in." McCarthy's innocence. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly there is a decided draught." think that any burglar could have done. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Whose house is it?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "9th. McCauley cleared. attention." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" obstinate." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were companion quietly. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Is he quiet?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away him to go away.' "And what did you learn from him?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "But what harm can there be in that?" (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless any little problem which you may submit to me." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are without success. At last the little money which I had saved began found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open carried out of court." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; opened the door, and slipped through. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "I say that I have solved it." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "And what did you see?" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any quite distinctive." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "The decline of his fortunes, then?" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one