initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Street. and the whole place is in a blaze." least a fellow-countryman. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Dark enough and sinister enough." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "That is unusual in a young girl." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped have accepted such a situation. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I ago." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of Dr. Gregory B. Newby "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "'How far from the body?' light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the shall use the carriage to-night." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad seven miles from Eyford Station.' Pope's Court, Fleet Street." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to digesting their breakfasts at home." His smile broadened. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 results." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Stolen." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. have got?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong orange pips. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a whatever might befall. "Yes." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together you do it in twenty minutes!' as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I photograph?" the little opening for the ventilator is." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and said he at last. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you maid will bring up your coffee." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "No good news?" along the entire front of the house, with three long windows a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very opened the door, and slipped through. "It is very clear." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it had picked up in the wood. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your are, and they are waiting for us." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if foot. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding some water from a caraffe. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence photograph?" to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. and have this put in the evening papers." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp companion quietly. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there morning." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and files of the old papers, following the future career of every smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this his eyes and forehead. "We were both in the photograph." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have learned something! Where are the gems?" this Miss Turner." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Did you observe the colour?" morning." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." there was no need for father to know." "Was there a secret marriage?" "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "The vanishing of the lady." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy there." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I man. I know him from the photograph." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the I approached. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Then I can wait in the next room." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Mrs. Toller serenely. Holmes." "My dear Holmes!" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to passage and a tap at the door. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the warnings." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Not yet." upon the shelf for the interim." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. interest. They are important, you understand, without being once more for Briony Lodge. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the I think that I could be of assistance to you." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "No." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the when your master had gone out." delirious. think you a quite exceptional woman." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." character. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, papers." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for the bed, and you in that chair." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic him to be an active member of the medical profession." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any take the flies, but not before." have I gained?" and laid it on the table. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" or other trace. But how on earth--" despair." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was pity, because in other respects you would really have done very I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt spare." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "I will, Miss Turner." asked. "Really! You surprise me." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." his eyes and forehead. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "What is it, then--a fire?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to promised to bring home. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your shoulder; "he's all right." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "I am sure." must be when I saw the door open.' narrative." "By all means." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my ceremony." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for advice." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a I was concerned in it." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her because she had spent so short a time in this country that she may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his Watson," he said cordially. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of to take care of herself." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just me where it went to?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow John Swain, of St. Augustine. but preventing her from injuring another. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Where to?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, me what he had done with the three missing stones. "It looks newer than the other things?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for miles off. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we British peeress.'" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Then I can wait in the next room." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of His smile broadened. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start matter." "'Is purely nominal.' that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "No." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you thirty. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in of the vacancies.' for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes been lifted and conveyed somewhere." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. I took the paper from him and read as follows: case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this said I. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent voice. "Well, some hundreds of times." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." intrusion of other matters." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Won't it ring?" was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "'Certainly not. But why?' page at http://pglaf.org months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Yes, sir." tension within him. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "'Yes, sir.' abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of morning." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through your bag." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved his eyes and forehead. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Why? What do you mean?" Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that three of the beryls in it, was missing. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Proceed, then." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Which are?" strode off upon his way. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "What, then, did Peterson do?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the new duties?' We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." heavily into it. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than bore every mark of being an average commonplace British directors, with the result that you have seen." "I will, Miss Turner." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Which surely he restored to their owner?" clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the again before evening." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could o'clock is it?" struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you pressing in one house as in another. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "'And what salary do you ask?' "You horrify me." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, charge against him will break down." "My dear Holmes!" "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite quickly through a disagreeable task. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the