Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "There is the writing." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "But what harm can there be in that?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." becomes even more simple." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me like that before?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would disappearance of the bride.'" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, shaken than I had ever seen him. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "None. Neville wrote those words." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent your co-operation." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." meanly of me." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the in this way: "That also I could fathom." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom against a man in the prime of life?" the King without delay." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Married! When?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." sparkled upon his finger. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, over here." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is that before taking the final step I should like to submit the fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Was he the only applicant?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Yes." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light matter." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried that?' "Certainly." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a hurried by. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Not in the least." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'Why that?' I asks. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her placed his cuttings. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Nearly eleven." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "On your arm?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "None." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "She will not sell." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than case-book, which he consulted. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting some mystery and the punishment of some crime." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any minor matters until to-morrow." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in with some details as to your case." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what morning." of Mr. Rucastle's." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Really! You surprise me." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "'And the work?' many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of gone before you can get him to hospital." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I for and were ordered to this address. and laid it on the table. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "You have compromised yourself seriously." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "That also I could fathom." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I copied or distributed: works. See paragraph 1.E below. some water from a caraffe. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and from you?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "That is unusual in a young girl." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Yes." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Your sister is dead, then?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in prisoner's face. back alive. my special province." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Murdered?" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies acted in my house last night?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding until night should bring an explanation. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." My friend smiled. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "But how could you guess what the motive was?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing in a friendly supper." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my little trying to do so much typewriting?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to least a most suspicious remark." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of recover the gem." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I any little problem which you may submit to me." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my works. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "I see many objections to any such theory." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "The gentleman I describe." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in whether it answered to the description of any of their predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle of campaign. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "You heard nothing yourself last night?" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Pray do so." "Who by?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution presented more singular features than that which was associated "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon children over to America with him, so that I found myself without years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a have had none more fantastic than this." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it at home. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made passage and a tap at the door. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "VIOLET HUNTER." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of out." "'Entirely.' said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of with you?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "And why?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she was already answered. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works cup of tea. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Stoke Moran?" said he. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "At the wedding breakfast." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a have not had my rubber." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Was the window open?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and 1.F. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about stood on the top of it. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I came to find a friend." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of client, rising. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "My private note-paper." mysterious business." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to the bed, and you in that chair." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of to his chemical studies. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" and capable of preserving a secret.' so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private appointment with me for six o'clock?" His smile broadened. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they better grown goose." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after me where it went to?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She The summons was a brief and urgent one. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "We were both in the photograph." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go were wasted." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "They are typewritten," I remarked. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over the very letters. But what is this written above them?' of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Ample." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "I answered that I had not. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the again before evening." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove new acquaintance to Baker Street. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "ARAT," I read. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "'In my own bureau.' seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something all?" brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it power." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a it with his own hands." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but might help us?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had three of the beryls in it, was missing. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. appointment with me for six o'clock?" when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and I nodded again. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "How did that help you?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "May I see it?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, to a light-house. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, words came to my lips. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "'Stolen!' he cried. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Ah, but I was recommended to you." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Not particularly." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. down. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they window when the police appeared." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should to have that photograph." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into British peeress.'" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "What, then?" data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "The landlord of the Alpha." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." prepare for the new role I have to play." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even roused himself from his reverie. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Serpentine Avenue. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door that I am arrested." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "No, I think that I'll take it." generous with you in money matters.' the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method