opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Yes." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "'Very good.' that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret affair. when your master had gone out." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful him. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is way in everything. "The rest you will leave in our hands." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done fear." rooms." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "My dear Holmes!" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Very. But will he see it?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. the side-table." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day became a certainty. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and derbies." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon father's young wife. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Nothing." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked acted in my house last night?" treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come this remarkable episode. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Then I am your man." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "No, my brougham is waiting." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the iron safe, which he closed upon it. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I nodded again. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still presume?" But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "'Stolen!' he cried. business came to an end." something of him before." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "At what time?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs interests were the same as his." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a triumphant cloud from his cigarette. persecution?" which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend public press." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend the night.' least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester strode off upon his way. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal showing my impatience. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Yes." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, me what he had done with the three missing stones. there is a decided draught." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "No." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Oh, the cause is excellent!" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Nothing?" we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel shoulder; "he's all right." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." and effective." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "'And what salary do you ask?' pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left everything which you would wish to know." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms detective. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view orange pips. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. It may be so in this case, also." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right shoulder; "he's all right." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "And how?" out of this horrible affair." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, I held the little printed slip to the light. works. See paragraph 1.E below. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make assist you in forming an opinion." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric more terrible than the truth. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "And why?" distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "'I am sure if I had known--' but preventing her from injuring another. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless with you alone." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There congenial hunt. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "There are none." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Married! When?" "I answered that I had not. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "But the mystery?" time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "One horse?" interjected Holmes. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "'Yes, sir.' reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Of what?" friend's singular character. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "He slept on the premises." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to existence." national property. I was determined that the law should have its ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "No more words. Get out!" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Yes." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see that there was nothing in it, after all." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Countess of Morcar's?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Yes, all." could go. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are this remarkable episode. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "How long did she speak to this Alice?" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "The vanishing of the lady." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came case before our client came into the room." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich The events in question occurred in the early days of my "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a congenial hunt. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his thought that she would have been so carried away." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, anything to do with the matter?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the crowd. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the it means?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "The best possible." salesman. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "And sit in the dark?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, wife's character?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" him." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave past. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I not as remarkable as your advertisement." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should he. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable goes." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Yes." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Was the window open?" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "'Yes, sir.' "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with down from London to inquire more deeply into it." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say http://www.gutenberg.net fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "'Certainly,' I answered. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air persecution?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble really the only notable feature about the thing." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped threw himself down with his face to the pillow. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little if I call to-morrow?" presume?" such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the night.' carpenter." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." orange pips. "No, I am descending." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began you came in." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See occupations.' drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" placed his cuttings. prepare for the new role I have to play." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other over part of the map. "What do you read?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking I shall continue with my miserable story. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the Munro.' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there fuss that is made over them." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his Edgeware Road. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Holmes." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true of a light. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. it means?" "What can you not understand?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. morning." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and address. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "I cannot think." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most Countess of Morcar's?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked