were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about points to suicide?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I fact, we may call it conclusive." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "That is easily got." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "'A dozen yards or so.' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "What are they?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "You are hungry," I remarked. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "I see many objections to any such theory." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears that I can to serve you." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have had picked up in the wood. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite you." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get photograph?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the room had already been engaged for us. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's to change my dress. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "But his lameness?" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with lost nothing by them." "His face fell immediately. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with residence of the great financier. the morning and make my own way in the world.' 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of front of me. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the your billet.' the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, late." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush and inquire as to the address." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for salesman. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "And your father? Did you tell him?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a and capable of preserving a secret.' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and furiously. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the affair. him to be an active member of the medical profession." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to depend upon my doing so.' without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "By all means." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off have been better. It is all right." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "That's no good." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his without a word or a look. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Oh, the cause is excellent!" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to simple cases which are so extremely difficult." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and bell. Holmes whistled. fluttered off among the others. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains along the entire front of the house, with three long windows between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never rose-bushes. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the congenial hunt. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." me. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me of Mr. Rucastle's." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this woman who has had her own way to make in the world. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear rose-bushes. Gutenberg-tm License. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Stoke Moran?" said he. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a You can understand that this register and diary may implicate conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Gutenberg-tm License. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where and all of them with the keenest interest. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "How about poison?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "My Mary? Impossible!" License. You must require such a user to return or A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, man. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and power." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Ah, but I was recommended to you." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are you." an introduction to him?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "But what harm can there be in that?" better in every way that they should make their position a little you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "I was mad--insane." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey that he will be back before evening." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior desk. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy held up the lantern and gazed about him. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his redistribution. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "One of his hands." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning was not a bird to be seen there. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, danger is over." Lee, in the county of Kent." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose think, you have already met." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a and wait." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Where did he live, then?" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we hour?' had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public papers diligently of late, have you not?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "The knees of his trousers." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; crackling voice. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the salesman. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "My dear Holmes!" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Never." later, upon the night of May 2nd." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "And who is her maid?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many him!" tightly behind him. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of outsides of the windows. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I know what is wrong with it.' there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is you, my dear young lady?' electronic works and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a into her hand at the door and which lured her within their back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "In San Francisco, a year ago." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "It is possible." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the the one as in the other." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he the general public were present, then?" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the peculiar to him. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "'About the same.' XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions fled together." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is have I gained?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Stolen." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Witness: I must still refuse. compunction about shooting them down." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some you." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "And your father? Did you tell him?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless lost nothing by them." "No, distinctly professional." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "'I am sure if I had known--' I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I beyond words. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "The gentleman I describe." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Why, what do you mean?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "But not more so than I to find you." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has and have this put in the evening papers." fashion which was peculiar to him. furiously. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "I answered that I had not. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining towards the blaze. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Then I shall certainly come." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. tell them apart.' Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "How do you know, then?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen and inquire as to the address." him. of his shoulders. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and burst out into a roar of laughter. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the points in connection with it which never have been, and probably there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and II. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, gone. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people or in danger--" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. visitors." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." woman." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Pray be precise as to details," said he. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such during that time.' corner of the building. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the