streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. situation." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Certainly." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which arrested. You then--" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." me where it went to?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see During two years I have had three consultations and one small his wife has ceased to love him." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, affair. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried giving me time to thank him. nothing with him." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "One of the highest in England." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to a more successful conclusion." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy allusion to a rat. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Dr. Becher's." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." chance." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "One of the highest in England." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "They are typewritten," I remarked. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Holmes' thin, eager face. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "It is possible." footfalls from the street. and effective." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three thirty. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "I will not look." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Then you may entirely rely on me." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between sufficient punishment." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the address. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then you give your casting vote to?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he it. "When did it break out?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the purpose equally well?" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found whereabouts. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman in him." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "What do you make of that, Watson?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Really! You surprise me." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between lost nothing by them." and the church but not where the lady lived." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "And for present expenses?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Look there!" said he. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "At the wedding breakfast." "I know where it is." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time where Mr. Fordham shows you.' 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "That sounds a little paradoxical." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it really the only notable feature about the thing." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few six. Come in!" my former friend and companion. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate words came to my lips. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House noble correspondent could be. 'please.'" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "What will you say?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of to tell." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the night.' attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Did you observe the colour?" "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Get out!" said he. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Not in the least." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Oh, yes, easily." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Count Von Kramm." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I cannot tell." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "And for present expenses?" disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." during that time.' His name is Francis Prosper." it right.' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "In San Francisco, a year ago." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a was a loud and authoritative tap. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Then he might have called to you?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "You saw the ventilator, too?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" fire. You quite follow me?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** hands. "VIOLET HUNTER." I shall continue with my miserable story. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." during which he might have communicated with his friend the as the one I chose?' course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still to change my dress. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing could not have written that. It is the German who is so had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side foot. acquaintance?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES friends, not even his own brother. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Breckinridge is his name." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "The rest you will leave in our hands." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, hard-headed British jury." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "And you don't know his address?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Thank you. And your address?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Have you good authority for what you say?" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and the very morning of the wedding." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will looking up at the numbers of the houses." very morning of my second wedding." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised least a most suspicious remark." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little goes." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is highroad, where all traces were lost. lamp. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "And how in the world did you find them?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 held up the lantern and gazed about him. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. your billet.' "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" call you and give you the chance." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed introspective fashion. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. roused himself from his reverie. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would to-morrow." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy depend upon my doing so.' fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all not come at once?" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in of campaign. became a certainty. the coroner come to?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella foresight and the moral retrogression?" late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "'Yes, it was gone.' be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "My stepfather's business papers." lectures into a series of tales." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from always that they were such commands as a lady might with typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "The best possible." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to one which it was hard to resist. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I distinguish the words: younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, excitement. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then sofa. This way, please!" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is I have it here in my museum." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting her also." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Heh?' quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Was the window open?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined newspaper selections." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it already been minutely examined." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the business." which our visitor detailed to us. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." fact, we may call it conclusive." "From his hat?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" as this. Pray let me have the details." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a memory. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." what do you think they found in the pockets?" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to you do it in twenty minutes!' "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the His smile broadened. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "But it has twice been burgled." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a standing smiling on the door-step. will be renamed. showing my impatience. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! future lives." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying could not account in any way for the presence of the missing fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him shoulder. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure conclusions. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "But who is he?" league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing if I call to-morrow?" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have as noiselessly as she had come. excitement. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the coronet at all injured?" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Was there a secret marriage?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the character. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Yes." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Holmes' face clouded over. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he