myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "About a month then." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Murdered?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are introspective fashion. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your off." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. disappearance of the bride.'" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon searched, without anything being found which could incriminate inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Certainly." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" any little problem which you may submit to me." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "I promise," said Holmes. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Then I am your man." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover know that the truth is known." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "None." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Her father is very rich?" acted in my house last night?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense this poor creature." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "When did she vanish, then?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking considering the formidable letters which were received by himself you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little or other trace. But how on earth--" father's young wife. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, believe that I should never have any practice at all. in him." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey garden below. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this completely overtopped every other consideration that we both classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he read over the extraordinary announcement. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up said Mr. Holder. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "It is a murder, then?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Henry Baker is a member." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "'A dozen yards or so.' appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really the iron safe, which he closed upon it. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they call the police, let the police find what they can.' freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "I answered that I had not. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as father's place of business?" "Certainly." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "In the cells." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I don't believe it." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "In San Francisco, a year ago." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, His smile broadened. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall strode off upon his way. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account some terrible trap for her." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "But you have hopes?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three morning." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "And you don't know his address?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was this Miss Turner." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "But you can know nothing of this?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." round with crates and massive boxes. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She for the market.' were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I became a certainty. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that desk. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "The knees of his trousers." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "My last client of the sort was a king." had died away into the silence from which it rose. to-night." thin legs towards the fire. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a your sleep?' fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Yes, I have one waiting." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "But you have hopes?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which hereditary King of Bohemia." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make society." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local walking." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of said I. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge recover the gem." your Highness to the police-station?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little had a long day." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, visitors." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what Edgeware Road. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Can I be of assistance?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'Ample.' "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will to me. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully other means.' "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "When did she vanish, then?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' there in twenty minutes." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "It was." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room the south-west, I see." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off comes from the middle window." lost nothing by them." "I cannot tell." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might the driver. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has a few minutes he said that it would be all right. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under bare slabs of marble. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, extraordinary contortions. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. night.' said he. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he views." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "But I have heard all that you have heard." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Then, how do you know?" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from question. "Never to return." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the murdered man." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we fire. You quite follow me?" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "And your mother is alive?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Not in the least." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great telegram would bring me down to your help." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do strength of mind to control. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help there were so many in the whole country as were brought together just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "My dear Holmes!" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes affair. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. less than 26s. 4d. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Whose house is it?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "And on what day did he meet his death?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "At half-wages, in fact." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? I shall continue with my miserable story. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he The police have openly confessed that they can at present make any more." there was no need for father to know." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some interested in these little problems, and since you are good comes from the middle window." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., sentimental considerations in the background which would induce somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, http://gutenberg.net/license). prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. yards of it?' Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and which should have the effect of calling the attention of the tell them apart.' returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the again before evening." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Literary Archive Foundation is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may and a shock of very red hair. your bag." "How did you deduce the select?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm simple cases which are so extremely difficult." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "It's nothing of the kind." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey sit on the left-hand side of the driver." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of nonsense.' definite end. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the them, and came down just as you departed. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an one of them." "My opinion is in no way altered." that you can jump it.' the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent very old mansion. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon him and tried to hold him back. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can fish-monger and a tide-waiter." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to as noiselessly as she had come. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable handed it to him. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "A client, then?" "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend official police." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "But how?" village inn over there?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed forehead. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that congenial hunt. again before evening." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." chill to my heart. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Was he the only applicant?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for bedroom door." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an