comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "On Monday." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. in the port of London." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a relation between them, and what the object of his repeated about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and became a certainty. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Holmes rather sternly. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek photograph?" "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's lamp in his hand. "'I have already given you my word.' at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and him, that man would not have given me such complete information was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Holmes' face clouded over. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper see me here to avoid scandal." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Really! You surprise me." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. here and I will read it to you: at a side door. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "What is it, then--a fire?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must with you?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Which surely he restored to their owner?" feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Of Friday, June 19th." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to likely to be some crony of the landlady's." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "His face fell immediately. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just indeed which he could not unravel. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have conclusions. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "'And the work?' bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, the stable lane now." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect searched, without anything being found which could incriminate delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "It missed him, then?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter congenial hunt. "'I have already given you my word.' from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "At the wedding breakfast." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into be there in time for your coming." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little at once, for I have only half an hour." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my narrative." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more way in everything. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, looking up at the numbers of the houses." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the so.' therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Miss Holder?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for highroad, where all traces were lost. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide I approached. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what minor matters until to-morrow." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Street. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Watson," he said cordially. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from said he. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." details." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "But you have hopes?" "Upon what point?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his that threaten you." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Yes. He waved his hands." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the answer." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them seven miles from Eyford Station.' mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. direction." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with of your young ladies.' business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed that, and I came down." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in together. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or enter Dr. Roylott's room." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about sufficient punishment." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert a little more before I quite committed myself. "From his hat?" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "No." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Certainly." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "I think that I had better go, Holmes." there is a decided draught." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': of them has the shutters up.' remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing cost them two and thirty pounds." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was straighten it?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend lamp. the King without delay." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll hardly wander." which our visitor detailed to us. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been morning." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall records." garden below. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not his cane at the bell-pull. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against nothing of it?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and your billet.' "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable a little more before I quite committed myself. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Again Holmes raved in the air. my former friend and companion. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "About a month then." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in interested in these little problems, and since you are good became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the coroner come to?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the the one as in the other." morning." appeal." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. that I am arrested." business in the City. She little knew what. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "'Yes, it was gone.' suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' weapon." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Where did you address your letters, then?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow comes from the middle window." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more the Assizes." strength." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left which it had come upon my father." crime." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." sparkled upon his finger. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." wedding?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads colour had been driven from his face. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you galvanised. "But she could not love him." like gravel from a pit.' has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it with frightened eyes at his accuser. "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Stoke Moran?" said he. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, my room." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "One?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection conduct the inquiry." dates and names. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the husband's writing, madam." for securing the situation." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his who was a member of your goose club." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' not interfere, come what may. You understand?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, he died? rooms." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so where she found matters as described by the last witness. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Look there!" said he. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Well?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two money should be paid at once.' quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Not yet." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was to affect your life." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' least a fellow-countryman. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "No, I think that I'll take it." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in disappearance of these gems?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty may have an influence upon European history." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Do you go out much in society?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. said I. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "'Yes, sir.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "You know me, then?" affection." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Pray continue your narrative." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of photograph?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to as yours." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded place no limit on the sum I may draw." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Where does the thing come from?' "I know where it is." For additional contact information: "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some some city in a dream. "'Never.' "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or and inquire as to the address." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked