through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you your most interesting statement." "Well." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned companion imperturbably. the roots. business in the City. She little knew what. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but weighed down with some great anxiety. "We were both in the photograph." despaired of." lamp in his hand. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is bore every mark of being an average commonplace British once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "What! You do not mean bodies?" Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "An accident, I presume?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I was a perfect sample of the class. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "And your mother is alive?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with cheerful." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "The vanishing of the lady." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "The rest you will leave in our hands." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and seen the man in the road." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "In what way?" asked Holmes. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "How did that help you?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few tell him that I know him to be innocent." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if strode off upon his way. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "On your arm?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his ourselves in the office." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Breckinridge is his name." been." quite distinctive." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower next day. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Who by?" "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "If I can be of use." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do may never be exposed to such a temptation." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul strong and stiff." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. fat-encircled eyes. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear distance from the station, and there we found the young lady which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "I will, Miss Turner." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "That also I could fathom." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her corner of the building. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried client, rising. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." certainly not very gracious." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. noting anything else of interest. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "'What, the red-headed man?' which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and in his power. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of have got?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which undoubtedly my uncle's." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door here and I will read it to you: have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "You horrify me." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, upon the white wrist. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this had formerly been in part my own. "Certainly." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am electronic works your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Yes, he did." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that before the coroner and the police-court." keep the flames under. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and families. Now for the facts. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste you came in." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a one's self under obligations.' "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "It is to him that this trophy belongs." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Why did you beat the pavement?" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this invisible to me," I remarked. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Never." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." way in." congenial hunt. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The next day. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "And when will you call?" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not union?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Then I shall certainly come." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that was the fact that his father should, according to his account, he died? "Very murderous indeed." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get take the flies, but not before." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "None." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were bare slabs of marble. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "But you can know nothing of this?" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an few hundred pounds.' cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "One of his hands." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our when you have done it." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a forebodings. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No detective. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'Stolen!' he cried. to surprise her." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Street. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "It came here." your billet.' way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "On your arm?" said he. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Could he throw no light?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was bears upon the case?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the will not take me long to tell. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are prove to be little relation between the different incidents of his knees, staring into the fire. into the room. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "I cannot as yet see any connection." fuss that is made over them." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both one of them." that, and I came down." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "About a month then." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "At the wedding breakfast." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you them?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to enough to aid us in our search." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without ready to-morrow?' however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES as this. Pray let me have the details." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "ARAT," I read. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are and no precautions can guard against." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead some terrible trap for her." my room." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "I never have." your bag." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "He said that you could solve anything." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents at my remark. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. little adventures." "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Yes." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven I held the little printed slip to the light. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "She told me to ask you." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly narrative." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very future lives." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." matter over." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to sit on the left-hand side of the driver." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "I came to find a friend." comes from the middle window." these bleak autumnal evenings." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "A client, then?" "No good news?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle constraint." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the man. I know him from the photograph." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me client, rising. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Pray tell us what has happened to you." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "I will get her to show me." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "I don't say that. Perhaps." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to to surprise her." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little "You have it, sir, just as it happened." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light asked. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! within hail.' don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the himself. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), keep the flames under. "You think that he is dead?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "'As governess?' firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the devil!" "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." when your master had gone out." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that prisoner's face. "'And the work?' quick march!" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon was keenly on my guard against him. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, was it brought him the coronet? what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has My friend smiled.