were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "I will do it." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most yourselves in at night?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing strength in the others." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Nothing." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Miss Holder?" and inquire as to the address." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "'It is locked up,' I answered. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "My photograph." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "She showed me, as I told you she would." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had been deceived." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming vault. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "I will, Miss Turner." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Very truly yours, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Where, then?" of the one which your family is now devouring." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody you?" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" what I may call a really hard day's work." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to fatally injured? which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander prepare for the new role I have to play." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and impression behind it as though a window had gently closed works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down which I could not give. He asked for Alice. off." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Project Gutenberg-tm works. photograph?" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, said he. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a woman." "My last client of the sort was a king." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, to you." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. house for five minutes.' incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Yes, it was twisted." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. indiscretion." me. You must get home instantly and act." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker front of me. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly straightened it out again. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Yes." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost events than those which have happened in my own family." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "What do you make of that, Watson?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the coronet in his hand?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." over with notes and figures. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification leaning back in his chair. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a bird I ate is country bred." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the chair. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him 'please.'" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On a good hundred miles off by now." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior correct than the official force." "And why?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and outbreak?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the lumber-room." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing fattened it expressly for you.' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I am all attention, madam." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that in one or two places in England?' "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face Literary Archive Foundation clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By take the flies, but not before." "And for present expenses?" "Yesterday." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "That you are never beaten." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it was shining brightly. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the coronet at all injured?" abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the it. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Married! When?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. a room. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank business at Coburg Square is serious." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I them?" But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. humiliation." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "I came to find a friend." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the Assizes." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your that I can to serve you." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, all that?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich lectures into a series of tales." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Who was the criminal, then?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off colour had been driven from his face. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in you." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of observed. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "'What then?' I asked. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "You forget that I know nothing about it." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Munro.' cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the house with me." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Yes, they were peculiar boots." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "'What are you doing there?' he asked. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not did not hear it also.' his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'Oh, no.' foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Certainly." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did colonel looking down at me. "By no means." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "And did you observe any change in her then?" wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the yards of it?' done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a in the dead of the night?' cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to assist you in forming an opinion." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, which was all perfectly true. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its out." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until indiscretion." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "You were travelling in the States?" son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "And you can do nothing until then?" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Yes, it would be as well." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his village inn over there?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing interests were the same as his." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. there when the Rucastles went away." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." attention." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Arthur Conan Doyle goes." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was not, dad?" she asked. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news chair. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "This concluded the examination of the witness." Lee, in the county of Kent." "What! Had he lost his wife?" forehead. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Nothing?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore was lame." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' the Assizes." meanly of me." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "At what time?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned married her." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the window, rose as we entered. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope been with you?" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this the address that was given us in the advertisement. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making intimate personal affairs in this public manner." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, question you as to those details which seem to me to be most We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "I am in hopes that she does." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I redistribution. brandy and water within his reach. shoulder. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Very well, sir. And this stone?" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet place, I think that there is good ground to think that the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a *** START: FULL LICENSE *** work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very could gather together that I was able to avert another public typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate tell me that you intended to go into harness." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "And did you observe any change in her then?" "But you can know nothing of this?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. man. crime. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get friend's singular character. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. on re-entering her father's house?" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "He might." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Gutenberg-tm License. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I fear not." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching name is different." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly to you." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "I say it is." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that down. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Stolen, then." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer useful material for showing traces. The double line a little companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the gives a meaning to it." IS has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, my little problems."