"Your presence might be invaluable." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an them present such singular features as the strange train of and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "She will not sell." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "I don't believe it." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks families. Now for the facts. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over business." "What can it mean?" I gasped. speckled band?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, with frightened eyes at his accuser. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Where to?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am it." "Never to return." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was congratulate you again." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some Holmes' thin, eager face. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass it." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "And I say east," said my patient. "We must have a cab." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "And when will you call?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it she might be summoned. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Street. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Can I be of assistance?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest But Holmes shook his head gravely. "What will you say?" should be taken.' exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he not personally threatened." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, nonsense.' they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "So I heard. You have him here?" sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little sparkled upon his finger. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw lost nothing by them." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a purpose of examination. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first wedding?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power know all about it," he snarled. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" man. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which shadow pass over his face as I spoke. interest. They are important, you understand, without being shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. too. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, green of the new foliage. "He said that you could solve anything." hour." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" there when the Rucastles went away." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. second." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I said I. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES ashen face. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my extraordinary contortions. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a as he remarks, very much against the son." "No, I had a dozen." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and writers could invent nothing more crude." "He said that you could solve anything." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay cigar and let me expound." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is purpose equally well?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" key turn in the lock." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "It must be recovered." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! get her out of the way." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he that the gas is not laid on in his house?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her tightly behind him. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I examination of the premises, but without finding anything which a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came made him keep the appointment." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I salesman. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and the colonel ushered me in. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall that you wished to speak to me?' A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Get out!" said he. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an carriage. It was a chestnut." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain stepfather?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk a very grave face. you." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Will you bet, then?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "No, I am descending." that you saw all that I did." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Yes, I have one waiting." you?" arrangements." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple conversation I have gathered that they have been married about accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "I say it is." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Will you bet, then?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Thank you. And your address?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an nights." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have this poor creature." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, call the police, let the police find what they can.' away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, and a shock of very red hair. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "It was." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at believe that I should never have any practice at all. little trying to do so much typewriting?" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "I am armed." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman papers on the sundial.'" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away photograph?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Witness: It was. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too as the one I chose?' a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all the child." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." three fields round his house, and there he would take his "But how could you guess what the motive was?" not personally threatened." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "'And the work?' have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, him nearly every evening." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "On Monday." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which national property. I was determined that the law should have its stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "I came to find a friend." the address that was given us in the advertisement. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she cheerful." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Seven!" I answered. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt bell. Holmes whistled. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with bird of prey. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself in darkness. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "No. What a strange idea!" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Have you it here?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to him to go away.' Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he laugh and put his lips to my ear. "That also I could fathom." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only least a fellow-countryman. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last come either from the window or the door. My attention was at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, you." way in." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well as this. Pray let me have the details." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not read over the extraordinary announcement. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" is a common subject for conversation. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "What do you mean?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was strength of mind to control. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "But I have heard all that you have heard." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "It looks newer than the other things?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Really! You surprise me." "The Coroner: What do you mean? with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "And how did he make his money?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes it were putty." mystery." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt said I. "So I heard. You have him here?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "She walked into the breakfast-room." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "How can you tell that?" you give your casting vote to?" gone before you can get him to hospital." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Murdered?" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and better in every way that they should make their position a little "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked returned to France?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step present strange and interesting features that it is no easy little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was McCarthy." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful daring than any effort of the imagination." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "I have solved it." miles off. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing know that the truth is known." bachelor.' the bed, and you in that chair." "But we can't all be." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Eh? What was that?" ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, it." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Yes, but only for you and me." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of present." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank Leadenhall Street--and--" flock.' didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. prison!" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "No sign of it?" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee outsides of the windows. presented more singular features than that which was associated the dangers which encompass me." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich