photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "But what will you do?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "They are typewritten," I remarked. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "She walked into the breakfast-room." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Edgeware Road. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the nonsense.' sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear father's young wife. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a upon a handsome competence. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near orange pips. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "In what way?" asked Holmes. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he bell. Holmes whistled. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the stammered. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, that he has suffered." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "And Miss Sutherland?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a purpose equally well?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Your presence might be invaluable." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "'There is a drive, then?' Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Texas, I think." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "By train from Waterloo." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will least a fellow-countryman. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, detective. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already Farm upon the left." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my been with you?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been prison!" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my III. the matter?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. this as likely?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Was he the only applicant?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a neither fascinating nor artistic." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "A confidential servant?" "It is solved." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "By all means." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had appeared upon the scene." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "It is true that I have been generally successful." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Holmes, the busybody!" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have should be taken.' "No. What a strange idea!" heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the in my life." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, indeed happy." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy all that?" out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence purpose of examination. forehead. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." which was all perfectly true. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I showing my impatience. side. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "The landlord of the Alpha." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the from you?" "And what did you learn from him?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he following enigmatical notices: "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might wedding?" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he interests were the same as his." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten will find little credit to be gained out of this case." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting The events in question occurred in the early days of my your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds DISSOLVED. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'Never.' view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. hair?' corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "So it appears." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "'I am sure that I do not know.' flock.' "Never to return." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "How often?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "'And what are they worth?' I asked. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Then I am your man." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke directors, with the result that you have seen." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a I approached. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to tell him that I know him to be innocent." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of it right.' human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her o'clock is it?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give breakfast." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the stones. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident could not account in any way for the presence of the missing inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Breckinridge is his name." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said his cane at the bell-pull. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous which are rolled in Rotterdam." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Because he was handy and would come cheap." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." the stable lane now." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Gutenberg-tm License. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'I am sure if I had known--' been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of served to weaken the effect. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good appeal." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich the bed, and you in that chair." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words learned something! Where are the gems?" "And how did you find out?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a father's place of business?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my will take you up to see the machine.' destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. floor. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both seem to you to be relevant or not." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom the devil!" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged directly by questioning you." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "A call for help, you thought?" other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, ventilator." if only as a check to my own memory." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the about here speaks of his kindness to him." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known dead, shall be safe with us." that he will be back before evening." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly persecution?" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass key of the affair now." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such garden below. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is a very grave face. someone who had been in Australia." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do might have a private word with us. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be country, and eventually married, without anyone having a smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the made his money." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the visitors." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and waste of energy." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as at my remark. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. digesting their breakfasts at home." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Oh, the cause is excellent!" at a side door. meant it for the best. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little conversation I have gathered that they have been married about confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some tightly behind him. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how vague figure huddled up in the darkness. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them already been minutely examined." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "It is possible." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of