son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and undoubtedly my uncle's." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in the inquest, and which are worth considering." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "No, finished." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, least a fellow-countryman. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the other lovers by making love himself." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton companion imperturbably. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Did he not advertise?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "'Certainly,' I answered. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." one of them." delighted to hear it," he said. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the said he at last. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, about here speaks of his kindness to him." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" morning." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one tension within him. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" You want to know what became of those geese?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "But it has twice been burgled." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard noise which awoke you from your sleep?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure cause to be." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the that comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Bought." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "No more words. Get out!" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they this remarkable episode. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is interests were the same as his." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back forecastle of an emigrant ship. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too over with notes and figures. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "And that is--" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project my special province." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, cost them two and thirty pounds." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "By no means." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to me. You must get home instantly and act." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his was the fact that his father should, according to his account, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could had died away into the silence from which it rose. Watson," he said cordially. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "What shall I do?" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "What is it?" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I will find little credit to be gained out of this case." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, whatever might befall. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as will not take me long to tell. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "In what way?" asked Holmes. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the down. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "But what is it you wish?" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he four million human beings all jostling each other within the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the running down." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and shall not find me ungrateful." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his wall." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, a room. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the good-night and bustled off upon her way. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Yes." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could outside." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be because she had spent so short a time in this country that she of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, coat-tails." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Pray be precise as to details," said he. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "It must be recovered." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Which are?" wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the nothing of it?" to tell." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose speckled band?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all indeed which he could not unravel. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" habit of advancing money.' "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the heavy and sharp instrument." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its danger is over." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Countess of Morcar's?" "Whose house is it?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Not in a good cause." fear." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive chance." closing the door. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Yes, it would be as well." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "May I see it?" a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly figure." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "I would give my fortune to have them back." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a already been minutely examined." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you narrative." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a window when the police appeared." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. papers on the sundial.'" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. imbecility!" he cried. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from the general public were present, then?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, fat-encircled eyes. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, round and wave him away like that.' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be bird I ate is country bred." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Very. But will he see it?" more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'About the same.' The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and the room while you explain this matter?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the down. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black know all about it," he snarled. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another detective. "I cannot imagine." "Ha! you find it so?" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so as the one I chose?' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, at my own good fortune. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' success. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." and effective." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments said Mr. Holder. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the such person." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say depend upon your compliance." interests were the same as his." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he shaken than I had ever seen him. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his system of imprisonment?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding yet." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates will take you up to see the machine.' 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a lost his Christmas dinner." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." like that before?" "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Pray let us have it, for all that." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or appeal." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "The gentleman I describe." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Imitated." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in in a friendly supper." Arthur Conan Doyle delirious. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Of Friday, June 19th." entirely lost his self-respect." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a back into the street. interests were the same as his." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from carried out of court." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his Holmes' thin, eager face. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "And you can do nothing until then?" of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who up this clue while it is still hot." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most will take you up to see the machine.' man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes pictures, libraries, or plate. cup of tea. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as back alive. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, awkward doing business with an alias." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: character. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in DAMAGE. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "And you can do nothing until then?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been will be renamed. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things mystery!" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of have got?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' to affect your life." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My security.' whatever might befall. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "And what did you learn from him?"