and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad had a long day." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I not within a twentieth part of the market price." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but several quiet little villages up there." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and may have an influence upon European history." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no have not had my rubber." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "I do." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can becomes even more simple." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly tell me that you intended to go into harness." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love a little more before I quite committed myself. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid indiscretion." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "And leave your case unfinished?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is ago." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you stood on the top of it. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see in his power. me have 200 pounds?' Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Yes, all." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main Street. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if fluttered off among the others. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my cheerful." at my remark. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook compunction about shooting them down." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I golden eyeglasses. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a crowd. conceal it?" "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been least a most suspicious remark." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave gone. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "'Never.' so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, felt?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "His face fell immediately. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." was a lad." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. business?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage own family. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who had picked up in the wood. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Ah!" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Was your sister dressed?" "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. without a word or a look. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "I am in hopes that she does." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say be there in time for your coming." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have in the port of London." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Certainly." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the side-table." him to be an active member of the medical profession." allusion to a rat. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "On your arm?" crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me Young McCarthy must be got off, however." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little tail." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his dead, shall be safe with us." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it it." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue ways including including checks, online payments and credit card circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared made his money." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly miles off. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Did you observe the colour?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "My stepfather's business papers." humiliation." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred beg that you will break it off." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in man. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "And how did you verify them?" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "By no means." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my standing smiling on the door-step. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and when your master had gone out." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has was keenly on my guard against him. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, particular state visit http://pglaf.org became a certainty. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Yesterday." http://www.gutenberg.net "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. advice." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "You horrify me!" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "That was it, sir." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." prisoner's face. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Thank you. And your address?" beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in I approached. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important as he folded up the epistle. "'Oh, no.' for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "How did you trace it, then?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for row." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "And Miss Sutherland?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any upon a handsome competence. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask triumphant cloud from his cigarette. that?' would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and breakfast." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a forecastle of an emigrant ship. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. letters?" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself The telegram which we eventually received came late one night We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, in the hope of finding them." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "We have tried and failed." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." recover the gem." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this happened." there!' went to the Alpha were town bred." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they the devil!" you." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Then I can wait in the next room." "But his lameness?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Mrs. Toller serenely. as he remarks, very much against the son." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Imitated." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "How about poison?" said he. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or is," said he presently: not, dad?" she asked. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, for its centre. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "He said too much." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net so.' in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in You can understand that this register and diary may implicate which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. conduct the inquiry." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Never." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the charge against him will break down." other, as fresh and trim as possible. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "My photograph." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to crackling voice. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be little adventures." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside geese which you supplied to the Alpha." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see three of the beryls in it, was missing. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper himself. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by way: thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Yes, he did." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with my little problems." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Entirely." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters call for it in person on Monday morning.' more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I have an American origin." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal like that before?" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "I do." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Stolen." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As Henry Baker is a member." "Dark enough and sinister enough." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our it." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Eh? What was that?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the salesman. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Come in!" said he. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "And why in hopes?" one of the states of the Union." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled and a shock of very red hair. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady secret." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully some terrible trap for her." are, I think, all that we need." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. very morning of my second wedding." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation room?" detained." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Yesterday."