hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, have accepted such a situation. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Her father is very rich?" should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "I am about to be married." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms might have a private word with us. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind you." client, rising. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Was your sister dressed?" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Yes, certainly." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual promised to bring home. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Did he not advertise?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "A confidential servant?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took had no one to advise her at such a crisis." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "And I to find an enemy." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Then I am your man." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At to arrive at through this?" was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB of receipt of the work. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly triumphant cloud from his cigarette. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' pictures, libraries, or plate. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which again." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, go--none." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his go from here to the Strand." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as me." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the shaken than I had ever seen him. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Won't it ring?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the chemical work which was so dear to him. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg foot. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I am all attention, madam." upon the white wrist. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which of Fenchurch Street." "Just look it up, then." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly held up the lantern and gazed about him. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "The knees of his trousers." the King without delay." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can quite distinctive." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of you for a few hours?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year colonel looking down at me. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Dirty?" the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Yes, sir." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Ah!" opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, which was all perfectly true. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged our word." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front completely overtopped every other consideration that we both and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and to that open window." directly by questioning you." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our joking. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "It looks newer than the other things?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able answered with a sidelong glance. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the bearing upon the case." not fit the lock." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "And how have you succeeded?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way wedding?" her also." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, the stable lane now." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the a room. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, confronted him. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as bore every mark of being an average commonplace British to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "He said too much." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I am about to be married." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was in your London, you will know that the office of the company is arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "What do you mean?" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one long narrative. leave you to your papers for a little." deduce something from that?" of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "You'll never persuade me to believe that." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of read it out to me." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the room while you explain this matter?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert The police have openly confessed that they can at present make I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty call the police, let the police find what they can.' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I undoubtedly my uncle's." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was upon an income of about 60 pounds." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. London for the present?" garden below. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is highroad, where all traces were lost. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of little adventures." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a his face. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come the warnings." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'Most admirably.' "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up it." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Yes?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would of the one which your family is now devouring." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my where Mr. Fordham shows you.' outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, seven miles from Eyford Station.' mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "I cannot tell." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our the devil!" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "I cannot imagine." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of occupations.' to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in girl said." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional this man was intellectual?" client, rising. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Dr. Becher's." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Breckinridge is his name." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. bird of prey. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "But who is he?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to manager. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, of the efforts of the United States government and of the better am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. and that he would see to anything that turned up. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read affair. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The straightened it out again. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "I will get her to show me." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off security.' the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet gone. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed approach us with offers to donate. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the one of them." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Married! When?" galvanised. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From becomes even more simple." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court nothing with him." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be where she found matters as described by the last witness. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who hour?' "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we if only as a check to my own memory." she used." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK maiden herself was most instructive." results." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. in his power. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "How did he come?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "On your arm?" it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his business at Coburg Square is serious." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes said he. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "To an end?" "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Did you observe the colour?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was "So I have heard." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down be. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Get out!" said he. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all attention." mystery may be cleared along those lines." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" cigars in the box." little adventures." obstinate." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his putting in the horse. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special was lame." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "No bad?" and have this put in the evening papers." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for eavesdroppers?' full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of one or two very singular points about this room. For example, yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three