"No." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. was not a bird to be seen there. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked and the whole place is in a blaze." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "'As governess?' glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know them?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. conceal it?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and she might be summoned. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said tied." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Dark enough and sinister enough." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. prison!" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your locked." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which certainly not very gracious." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then speckled band?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "It is half-past ten now." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months along the entire front of the house, with three long windows such attractions and accomplishments?' "Ha! you find it so?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better these bleak autumnal evenings." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" him and tried to hold him back. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is which are rolled in Rotterdam." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "It missed him, then?" the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been look upon these things in a different way." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "None." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent bears upon the case?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then During two years I have had three consultations and one small "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Dirty?" heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." Gutenberg-tm License. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "In answer to an advertisement." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you think, you have already met." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: and the whole place is in a blaze." certainly not very gracious." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Perhaps we may make them less so." prepare for the new role I have to play." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when stammered. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into unprecedented a position." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I companion. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" awkward doing business with an alias." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." your co-operation." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the despair." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building congratulate you again." know what is wrong with it.' to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "I saw her in conversation with her maid." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon standing smiling on the door-step. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what maiden herself was most instructive." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if call it cruel." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Texas, I think." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." laugh and put his lips to my ear. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the any more." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "One?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an good-night and bustled off upon her way. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave events, Mr. Windibank!" "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "At half-wages, in fact." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first than to us. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked husband's writing, madam." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had whereabouts. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could photograph?" weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the coroner's jury." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Very well, sir. And this stone?" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, of a light. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. I held the little printed slip to the light. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in business." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and where we are going." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "But how will you look?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room returning from some small jollification and was making his way "No. His orders were to stay in the house." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "But what harm can there be in that?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to and put his glass in his pocket. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your despair." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Witness: I must still refuse. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with be sorry for having acted so harshly." open." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "What!" he roared. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the coroner come to?" But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my the so-precious time, but come!' "'Very good.' "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder once more for Briony Lodge. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "No, I had a dozen." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his when you have done it." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him pierced for earrings?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his depend upon your compliance." "No, I think that I'll take it." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Holmes." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "It certainly sounds feasible." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I I was concerned in it." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Then he might have called to you?" I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Pope's Court, Fleet Street." reach." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret would apply.' no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across results." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to is now desirous of getting those letters back." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Yes, the wine-cellar." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." the tragedy. you." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'A dozen yards or so.' "'And the work?' bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, main points of my analysis." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in have got?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and think that any burglar could have done. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and woman." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' it right.' should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about results." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a about here speaks of his kindness to him." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of digesting their breakfasts at home." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "It was an hour's good drive." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good married her." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the it with his own hands." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts voice, changing her seat as requested. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Murdered?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to him nearly every evening." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. unprofitable." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may empty. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your noting anything else of interest. Cross for the Continent." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. o'clock is it?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one breakfast and whispered something to her husband. of a light. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Nearly eleven." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through at a side door. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." was a lad." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. seen the man in the road." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Arthur Conan Doyle house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very in my life." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the the house with me." happened." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." fire. You quite follow me?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, fire. You quite follow me?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no sound at heart." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Where is it, then?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what his face which made him a very different person to the round, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's