"You forget that I know nothing about it." too. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and the church but not where the lady lived." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to do.' green of the new foliage. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was or in danger--" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only mystery may be cleared along those lines." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "'In my own bureau.' last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. something of him before." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was retorted upon me, and I on you." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "I should wish to." it were putty." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely before the coroner and the police-court." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I should like to see him very much." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, could gather together that I was able to avert another public the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by asked. Pope's Court. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or hurried by. wedding?" upon a handsome competence. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Oh, yes, easily." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my have not had my rubber." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I have solved it." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until closing the door. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Certainly." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my very morning of my second wedding." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." less than 26s. 4d. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He know what is wrong with it.' I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "You think so, too?" "Then how many are there?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Yes, the wine-cellar." them present such singular features as the strange train of Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "I cannot think." my friend's incisive reasoning. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Witness: Nothing definite. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Do you receive much company?" he asked. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "An accident, I presume?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from been with you?" lost nothing by them." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not jewels which you have stolen?' surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is your only hope of safety." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "So I have heard." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to the armchair which I pushed forward for him. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of your only hope of safety." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "It is half-past ten now." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our so.' Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time some place of shelter and let the county police know what has well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring lectures into a series of tales." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the the very morning of the wedding." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in whereabouts. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "And help." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on you?" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter the best of training." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and lamp in his hand. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his way in everything. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "And now?" I asked. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her http://www.gutenberg.net how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did together. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and young Openshaw's." tapping his fingers upon the table. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend way: opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Yes." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, results." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. seem to you to be relevant or not." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable chemical work which was so dear to him. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my forehead. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, answer." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "He might." again before evening." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I desk. fluttered off among the others. indeed which he could not unravel. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole his eyes and forehead. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Who was the criminal, then?" "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "I was afraid that you were engaged." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and the stable lane now." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the meant it for the best. strength of mind to control. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, not, dad?" she asked. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "It certainly sounds feasible." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." there is a decided draught." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Very murderous indeed." "You have a clue?" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, row." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally weighed down with some great anxiety. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round amused." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards back alive. empty. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in a suggestive one." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood populous neighbourhood." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her lamp in his hand. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle frequently gained my first real insight into the character of had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by it right.' her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "And I to find an enemy." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter what is your own theory as to what took place?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found them present such singular features as the strange train of "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "And now?" He raised his hand. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning this unhappy family?" way in everything. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he sound at heart." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Where, then?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money asked with his eyes open. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for your only hope of safety." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Ten will be early enough." hand, madam?" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "She walked into the breakfast-room." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in you for a few hours?" step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for begun to whiten, even as mine has." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully she might be summoned. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to side. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose visitors." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, mysterious end." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He Sutherland. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel bedroom door." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the paper in the air. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote chambers. "When did it break out?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, round with crates and massive boxes. this poor creature." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I am armed." you for a few hours?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple himself. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything her also." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped