accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "But how did you gain them?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to figure." have an American origin." "The King of Scandinavia." http://gutenberg.net/license). Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the hour?' which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "In which, sir?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. mysterious business." your only hope of safety." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have suddenly upon us." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, is," said he presently: window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less the house with me." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Perhaps I have." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him situation." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Then, as to money?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Not him." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" suddenly upon us." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If know that the truth is known." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Yes, it would be as well." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to pressing in one house as in another. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Look there!" said he. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all said he at last. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." fear." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone opened the door, and slipped through. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss it." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Pray do so." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Precisely." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of new duties?' houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and entirely devoid of interest." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "'Quite sure, dad.' the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would experiences." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Certainly." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they to that open window." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER weigh very heavily upon my conscience." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It visitors." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw the matter?" "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with nothing of it?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for appeal." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were against a man in the prime of life?" my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held have an American origin." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Yes, I have one waiting." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. that, and I came down." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on been deceived." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence way: "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed have got?" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the that there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "My Mary? Impossible!" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into success. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even lumber-room." "To the police?" although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the station." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope to surprise her." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from was used.' Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, best detective that ever lived. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the all-comprehensive glances. "Yes, only one." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the business in the City. She little knew what. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "I say that I have solved it." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the question. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my when you have done it." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. guilty parties." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with your troubles." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it to tackle the facts." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the your equipment. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be The police have openly confessed that they can at present make from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. coat-tails." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Here?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against unkempt, staring out at me. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside works. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Was there a secret marriage?" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "'What then?' I asked. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "You did not overhear what they said?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "But the mystery?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "'Why that?' I asks. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an until night should bring an explanation. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided interests were the same as his." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last some mystery and the punishment of some crime." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can lectures into a series of tales." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in straighten it?" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My what I may call a really hard day's work." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would status with the IRS. "I cannot imagine." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Not particularly." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "No." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may chill to my heart. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less his face which made him a very different person to the round, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." said he. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Very well, sir. And this stone?" suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, touch that coronet?' contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "How did you trace it, then?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the you." interested in these little problems, and since you are good the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Well, some hundreds of times." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the coroner come to?" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Where, indeed?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "What do you mean?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. morning." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you tear off another piece?' touch that coronet?' hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it shag which I had seen upon the previous night. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of bare slabs of marble. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to His name is Francis Prosper." with her." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Game for a morning drive?" "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Game for a morning drive?" "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the and inquire as to the address." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. question," said Holmes, smiling. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let crackling voice. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "In heaven's name, what for?" in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "I would give my fortune to have them back." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'Most admirably.' threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining should be so warm over such a trifle." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when passage and a tap at the door. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "No bad?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a he died? visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he the inner apartment." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it next day. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do them, and came down just as you departed.