impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I cannot as yet see any connection." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both which we had just quitted. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a your equipment. certainly not very gracious." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, garden below. arrangements." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "What have you to say now?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "'Quite sure, dad.' "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." crowd. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended that you can jump it.' "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "What is it, then--a fire?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about look upon these things in a different way." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "You have the photograph?" stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. towards the blaze. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Stoke Moran." charge against him will break down." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "He is dead," cried several voices. which are rolled in Rotterdam." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, Holmes. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps locked." "Bought." "He said too much." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "A thing like a cleaver," said he. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Not particularly." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence there when the Rucastles went away." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the gigantic client. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "The gentleman I describe." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Oh, yes, easily." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took purpose equally well?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is without a word or a look. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Then how many are there?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its drove away. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "'Where to?' interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are which was all perfectly true. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "No, I had a dozen." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. written. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat man. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's down from London to inquire more deeply into it." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks were wasted." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "No good news?" charged with?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Certainly." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of a good hundred miles off by now." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "If so, much may have happened between." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple have one." What do you deduce from it?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "'Stolen!' he cried. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a prison!" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Yesterday." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I observed. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT beyond words. "How about poison?" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same details should find their way into the papers. Inspector All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his were new raised from a basin. "I know where it is." if I call to-morrow?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said rat could hardly pass through." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked comes from the middle window." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed quite distinctive." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. of." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so the very letters. But what is this written above them?' evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "The gentleman I describe." himself in a perplexing position. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the morning and make my own way in the world.' without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. to surprise her." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible little adventures." of them has the shutters up.' his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have not, dad?" she asked. "And on what day did he meet his death?" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and to a light-house. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold what is your own theory as to what took place?" "And now?" He raised his hand. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with vague figure huddled up in the darkness. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Why? What do you mean?" I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I trifles." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since criminal. We have already had experience of such." for securing the situation." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "You horrify me." look upon these things in a different way." "It was an hour's good drive." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at situation." me where it went to?" had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner down in his armchair and closing his eyes. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Why did you pick him?" and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the think, you have already met." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, Street. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "You have a clue?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday shall not find me ungrateful." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Then I am your man." sufficient punishment." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for a good hundred miles off by now." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying really the only notable feature about the thing." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or and all of them with the keenest interest. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "It is half-past ten now." "What, then?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It any more." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Pope's Court. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and despair." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been call you and give you the chance." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "And that is--" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "But we can't all be." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "And is that all?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the in this way: this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that that you saw all that I did." it means?" Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "And when will you call?" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should you want, then?' "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "The doctor?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the important." "Why did you beat the pavement?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, the Red-headed League." "Game for a morning drive?" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered families. Now for the facts. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front I nodded to show that I had heard. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in this Miss Turner." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an more terrible than the truth. "I am to be neutral?" twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier of." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "It is very kind of you." face and glided from the room. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for absolutely follow my advice in every respect." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building residence of the great financier. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we figure." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your have I gained?" intrusion of other matters." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the promised to bring home. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "I am still in the dark." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to had died away into the silence from which it rose. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for too. forecastle of an emigrant ship. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Oh, fresh and glossy." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised