withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I see me here to avoid scandal." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Awake, Watson?" he asked. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin you give your casting vote to?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful goes." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp she slowly sank and died without having recovered her be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told sofa. This way, please!" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Not I." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella new duties?' others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their mysterious business." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he to you." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, McCarthy." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen politicians who had been sent down from the North. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Pray do so." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of have accepted such a situation. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. in a friendly supper." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the stable lane now." I shall communicate with you." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned that the gas is not laid on in his house?" with you alone." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a room?" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as bird I ate is country bred." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Was your sister dressed?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands way: upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." voice. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into already been minutely examined." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted this as likely?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend other, as fresh and trim as possible. "And why?" certainly not very gracious." "'Yes, I promise.' "I cannot imagine." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried shaken than I had ever seen him. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, the Assizes." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the even so self-evident a thing as that." this as likely?" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this presume?" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it meanly of me." ran thus: II. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "'A dozen yards or so.' formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Holmes, the busybody!" outbreak?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was again." to change my dress. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she which are rolled in Rotterdam." Clair, of Lee." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up approach us with offers to donate. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "I would pay ten." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "And it is--" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "And Irene Adler?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "My photograph." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE roused himself from his reverie. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for just ask you whether you had heard it.' red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I the matter?" "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations upon an income of about 60 pounds." shaken than I had ever seen him. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, gentleman's clothes. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "How did he come?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "My dear Holmes!" Sutherland. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in vanished into the darkness. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised throat." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "You horrify me." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "I am all attention, madam." "Dr. Becher's." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" off." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in husband's writing, madam." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and emerged. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "'Certainly not.' where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, The events in question occurred in the early days of my every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "I should like to see him very much." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I papers." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since awaited us upon the table. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "None." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "It came here." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Not social, then?" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Yes, certainly." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker chemical work which was so dear to him. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed brandy and water within his reach. of Fenchurch Street." voice, changing her seat as requested. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to nothing of it?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if tapping his fingers upon the table. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Frequently." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the stalked out of the room. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." the one as in the other." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases questionable one." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "And how did you verify them?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these bird I ate is country bred." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "'How far from the body?' "'Entirely.' I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "In what way?" asked Holmes. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." look dissatisfied." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "He said that you could solve anything." him nearly every evening." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the rooms." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So woman who has had her own way to make in the world. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what at a side door. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Pray let us have it, for all that." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Very well, sir. And this stone?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite asked. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in humiliation." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our to-night." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "It surprised me." most interesting one." her also." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "One of his hands." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "You have a clue?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a of them has the shutters up.' He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on our word." despaired of." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her bachelor.' took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Ha! you find it so?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Come in!" said Holmes. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of me upon any point which I do not make clear." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave crowd. yet." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. to-morrow." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Project Gutenberg-tm works. success. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who danger is over." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his man. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "This photograph!" "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no served to weaken the effect. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and but preventing her from injuring another. "I see many objections to any such theory." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to I was concerned in it." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's out." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Where did he live, then?" of Fenchurch Street." his wife has ceased to love him." "That was it, sir." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a wife's character?" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as License. You must require such a user to return or sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "You saw the ventilator, too?" glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." fashion which was peculiar to him. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to away into the river." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own bled considerably." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to you." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness