the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "But what harm can there be in that?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the His smile broadened. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the sufficient punishment." formed some opinion?" there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not even so self-evident a thing as that." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing generous with you in money matters.' "Of Friday, June 19th." colour had been driven from his face. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "But how?" works. See paragraph 1.E below. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little obstinate." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause introspective fashion. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in carried out of court." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive lost his Christmas dinner." "So I heard. You have him here?" never to learn it at all." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a to affect your life." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you forecastle of an emigrant ship. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Why did you pick him?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "None." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." remarked. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "I cannot think." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the hand, madam?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall cup of tea. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "But how?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with is entirely a question of barometric pressure." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Were they all fastened this morning?" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me closely." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it up this clue while it is still hot." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Yes, from Horsham." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic was keenly on my guard against him. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird away into the river." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "How did that help you?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Pope's Court. the stable lane now." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "My private note-paper." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" papers diligently of late, have you not?" hour?' to a light-house. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and forehead. golden eyeglasses. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes drawing your inferences." least a most suspicious remark." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "That's no good." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "No." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my *** START: FULL LICENSE *** I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a never will be, entirely cleared up. narrative." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew charge against him will break down." fishes. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "It is a murder, then?" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, was once confined in the cab my mission was practically the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Where did you address your letters, then?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do strange features which were associated with the two crimes which There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "And is that all?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and goes." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Then the page we have seen--" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the coronet in his hands?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "The knees of his trousers." "What have you to say now?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose this unhappy family?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "No." as the one I chose?' Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "She showed me, as I told you she would." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most was feeling which was the fattest.' note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "It is true that I have been generally successful." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "'Very good.' the stones. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but his cane at the bell-pull. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "She walked into the breakfast-room." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Yes, it was twisted." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been 11:15.' "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" companion. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, the inquest, and which are worth considering." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Tired-looking or fresh?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Sutherland. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were about here speaks of his kindness to him." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." in a very precise fashion." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a one else, I think." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the the salesman. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or said I. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without I held the little printed slip to the light. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking threw himself down with his face to the pillow. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "You horrify me!" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the points in connection with it which never have been, and probably that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. it." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your your equipment. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless foresight and the moral retrogression?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need and that he would see to anything that turned up. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what pressing in one house as in another. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes disappearance of the bride.'" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here over with notes and figures. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'Where could I find him?' two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "I was sure that I might rely on you." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping drawing your inferences." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the them?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried examine." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying feature." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. You want to know what became of those geese?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" you came in." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent she might be summoned. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind was not a bird to be seen there. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "And why?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Quite so. She has her freedom." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other your co-operation." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her name is different." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. have an American origin." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "That is easily got." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Look there!" said he. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be upon an income of about 60 pounds." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of be. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "You are hungry," I remarked. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little rose-bushes. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building written. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Certainly." or in danger--" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" rooms." me. You must get home instantly and act." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in relation between them, and what the object of his repeated are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune green of the new foliage. and capable of preserving a secret.' "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" weighed down with some great anxiety. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Indeed! Whose, then?" my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize cause to be." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Yes." his eyes and forehead. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Eh? What was that?" good for you to do.' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the against a man in the prime of life?" to a more successful conclusion." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for at my remark. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the frequently gained my first real insight into the character of other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Was the window open?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences sake, don't!" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." held up the lantern and gazed about him. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder &