"Yes, from Horsham." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the highly," said Holmes. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was correct than the official force." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too point our research must commence, and we will begin it by rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" o'clock is it?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the off." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "And how in the world did you find them?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a window when the police appeared." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his his fortune, and I went back to pa. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain against a man in the prime of life?" knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest here." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "And the cigar-holder?" which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I villagers almost as much as their master. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed morning." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "What! You do not mean bodies?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon do.' was not a bird to be seen there. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "None. Neville wrote those words." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window be best to do. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we call the police, let the police find what they can.' "What have you done?" asked Holmes. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. vault. you in your example." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "You think so, too?" "Precisely." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind during the last few years, and there are many noble families to himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Breckinridge is his name." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Sutherland. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I 11:15.' the King without delay." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Why serious?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his against a man in the prime of life?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has chambers. himself to hunt down. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of matter." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES derbies." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "But not more so than I to find you." "I never have." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "'Very good.' "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Yes." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the coronet in his hand?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and but preventing her from injuring another. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Always." them?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out conversation I have gathered that they have been married about vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "You have carte blanche." there was no need for father to know." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" of receipt of the work. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of you understand?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to could go. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. kind enough to tell me what I should do." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Upon what point?" of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of think that any burglar could have done. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has good-night and bustled off upon her way. whole matter to your consideration." of." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Was the window open?" main points of my analysis." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the himself. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her she has been waylaid. There has been no result." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms this truth that in these little records of our cases which you in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an all that?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a posted to-day." I approached. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." should be taken.' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Dr. Gregory B. Newby off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in little trying to do so much typewriting?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my not interfere, come what may. You understand?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "He slept on the premises." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "I have seen the police." security.' dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "I came to find a friend." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De morning." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. of this gang." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the dramatic, in fact." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' happened." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Yes, but only for you and me." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, second window is the one that I jumped from." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently side. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when three of the beryls in it, was missing. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and visitors." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be purpose equally well?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid fatally injured? "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Absolutely?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to noting anything else of interest. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural that before taking the final step I should like to submit the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "I will not look." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "'And the work?' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." not, dad?" she asked. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the chill to my heart. eavesdroppers?' "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Pool. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated train.' sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "But the mystery?" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I do." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must she might be summoned. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a stepfather?" "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be morning." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he helping a boy to put up the shutters. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I chill to my heart. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "No." in his hands." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "And your father? Did you tell him?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "And your father? Did you tell him?" conduct the inquiry." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from means taking possession of that which another person has a prior 'I should be able to look after that for you.' he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Pray let us have it, for all that." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "But what harm can there be in that?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I should be immensely obliged to you." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he presented more singular features than that which was associated "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Ample." "I see many objections to any such theory." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "We have tried and failed." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no grasp, he hurried from the room. over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "My dear Holmes!" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I ceremony." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Nothing." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "No. What a strange idea!" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have which we had just quitted. "Absolutely?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. residence of the great financier. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Pray do so." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret will not take me long to tell. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' placed his cuttings. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it to tackle the facts." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and direction." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do rose-bushes. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its drawing your inferences." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "'Certainly not.' rooms." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "What are they?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the Assizes." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, the side-table." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "You will not go there first?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a it were putty." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question goes." that threaten you." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age conduct the inquiry." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it three fields round his house, and there he would take his result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "There is the writing." "My Mary? Impossible!" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too detained." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Why did you pick him?" six. Come in!" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Won't it ring?" permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Holmes, the busybody!" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the been deceived." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I