"'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their formed some opinion?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "What can you not understand?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, coroner's jury." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to have got?" "We have tried and failed." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's know all about it," he snarled. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "And what did you learn from him?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from directly by questioning you." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call man. I know him from the photograph." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably will not take me long to tell. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "'Never,' said I. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a key of the affair now." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the round and wave him away like that.' "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off here." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "I warn you that they are very incomplete." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "How about poison?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "She told me to ask you." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "And help." "Has he come with you to-night?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his me what he had done with the three missing stones. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. newspaper selections." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, ventilator." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening will he say when he returns?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "That is easily got." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "No." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Imitated." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen of the vacancies.' "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "To an English lawyer named Norton." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can look dissatisfied." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black the bottom.' "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass triumphant cloud from his cigarette. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before not as remarkable as your advertisement." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The happened." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young any little problem which you may submit to me." your own bird, so if you wish--" shaken than I had ever seen him. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. hair?' be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as was a loud and authoritative tap. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are this man was intellectual?" withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "But of what society?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such ran thus: He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even to arrive at through this?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in hardly wander." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, passage and a tap at the door. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of breakfast?" house for five minutes.' very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Yesterday." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "'I am sure that I do not know.' "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Is he quiet?" usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a note?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical criminal. We have already had experience of such." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who spare." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." really the only notable feature about the thing." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the noting anything else of interest. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly and prosperity to your house. Good-night." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of union?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And annoyance, but no jest. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, that, and I came down." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside means taking possession of that which another person has a prior utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "'Not at all. I only doubt--' be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in placed his cuttings. you came in." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to of Fenchurch Street." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will helping a boy to put up the shutters. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at details." in the hope of finding them." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the stones. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. cigars in their mouths. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said read it out to me." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I away to you." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "You have a clue?" it." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Heh?' "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my any." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. have got?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." It may be so in this case, also." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though business." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo some water from a caraffe. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch there is a decided draught." the general public were present, then?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather chill to my heart. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. License. You must require such a user to return or cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "It was a confession," I ejaculated. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "And the cigar-holder?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "What?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Where, then?" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Upon what point?" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "It was an hour's good drive." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased thin legs towards the fire. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite But Holmes shook his head gravely. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated had picked up in the wood. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "It was." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Eyford." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these in the dead of the night?' "No, my brougham is waiting." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his said he. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can voice, changing her seat as requested. "But how?" without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you plantation.' "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily triumphant cloud from his cigarette. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the Friday. Was it to be in church?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the a very grave face. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save flock.' stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This to-night's adventure." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "One of the highest in England." again, where I was soon asleep. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the very morning of the wedding." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "And Irene Adler?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an galvanised. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "And it is--" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the foresight and the moral retrogression?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "How can you tell that?" particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until yards of it?' bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to train from Paddington which would bring you there at about do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I know where it is." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an himself. "Not him." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Never." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "May I see it?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." if I call to-morrow?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "How about poison?" Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know 'I should be able to look after that for you.' may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Holmes rather sternly. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "And Irene Adler?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is morning." coat-tails." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black them?" a very grave face. call it cruel." have I gained?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Perhaps I have." October 9, 1890. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this morning." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such My friend smiled. true." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "None." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain second window is the one that I jumped from." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "To an end?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'Certainly,' I answered. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "Yes, he did." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "My private note-paper." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger were new raised from a basin. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." and I shall be with you presently." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, go back?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a this truth that in these little records of our cases which you With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would to miss it." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "No, thank goodness, she did not." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes place of silver." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "I do." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Precisely." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood