matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to grasp, he hurried from the room. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Yes, but only for you and me." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "This concluded the examination of the witness." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I I. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There several quiet little villages up there." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through the bottom.' snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a keep the flames under. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford looking up at the numbers of the houses." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "But he might be a bachelor." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of tail." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "It was a confession," I ejaculated. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "But who is he?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon certainly do as you advise." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under which it had come upon my father." "Has he come with you to-night?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "But who is he?" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Lee, in the county of Kent." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on in the hope of finding them." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, several quiet little villages up there." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in gigantic client. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no useful material for showing traces. The double line a little is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "In the cells." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my of Mr. Rucastle's." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. gives a meaning to it." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend at my own good fortune. cheerful." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, stalked out of the room. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square frequently gained my first real insight into the character of her also." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so a few minutes he said that it would be all right. seven miles from Eyford Station.' across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was ready to-morrow?' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to again before evening." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Count Von Kramm." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "The rest you will leave in our hands." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the general public were present, then?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "I do." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges was once confined in the cab my mission was practically heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the for and were ordered to this address. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "That is unusual in a young girl." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these husband's writing, madam." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me there has been an enclosure here!" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Yes, from Horsham." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the awaited us upon the table. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This that he has suffered." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of strength of mind to control. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "None." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Yes, certainly." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "That is also quite modern," said the lady. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "And how did he make his money?" the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become pierced for earrings?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On empty. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying together. "Yes, all." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "'It is locked up,' I answered. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "You have compromised yourself seriously." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it have accepted such a situation. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is as yours." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has McCarthy." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Was the window open?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" said I. depend upon your compliance." returned to France?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether better in every way that they should make their position a little "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; following enigmatical notices: 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "'Entirely.' caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "When did she vanish, then?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly and shall probably return to London by the evening train." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "No, I had a dozen." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if foot. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." so.' the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Why? What do you mean?" "And now?" He raised his hand. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Then he might have called to you?" back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Perfectly so." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than few hundred pounds.' at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of good for you to do.' the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Holmes' room. said I. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has these bleak autumnal evenings." "You will not go there first?" "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Yes." and the church but not where the lady lived." "Where, then, is my wife?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for go from here to the Strand." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what the window, rose as we entered. carriage. It was a chestnut." fasten all the windows?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." later, upon the night of May 2nd." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you should be taken.' blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has the address that was given us in the advertisement. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that key turn in the lock." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Yes. He waved his hands." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Oh, fresh and glossy." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the even so self-evident a thing as that." "No. What a strange idea!" must compliment you." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. disappearance of these gems?" "I cannot tell." suddenly upon us." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the charged with?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "I will do it." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "So I heard. You have him here?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a weighed down with some great anxiety. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "'I am sure that I do not know.' twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught that you saw all that I did." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp asked. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Only as much as we can deduce." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." tapping his fingers upon the table. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong amused." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson of them has the shutters up.' "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so should be taken.' shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and may never be exposed to such a temptation." was lame." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Surrey." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their I. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "What! Had he lost his wife?" "The knees of his trousers." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country quickly through a disagreeable task. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as she used." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed me." his wife has ceased to love him." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the electronic works had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself interested in these little problems, and since you are good "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the driver. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly opened the door, and slipped through. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting ways of our fellow-men." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "'I am sure if I had known--' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would the inquest, and which are worth considering." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic fish-monger and a tide-waiter." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must friends, not even his own brother. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer purpose equally well?" Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Here?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the here and I will read it to you: "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an said I. photograph a cabinet?" "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be From what you have told me I think that it is possible that very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and fuss that is made over them." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her bonnet, and went out." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "I have hopes." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I hurried away. "Ah!"