gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, the stable lane now." where she found matters as described by the last witness. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "And did you observe any change in her then?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he like that before?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Who by?" very old mansion. writers could invent nothing more crude." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in use an arc-and-compass breastpin." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "'Never.' entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." salesman. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon must be when I saw the door open.' the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "And I to find an enemy." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the matters immensely." Dr. Gregory B. Newby hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Tired-looking or fresh?" said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "You have compromised yourself seriously." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this You can understand that this register and diary may implicate we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. Dr. Gregory B. Newby to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these From what you have told me I think that it is possible that and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is tell them apart.' the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during views." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Farm upon the left." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "No, finished." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "I fear not." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Has he come with you to-night?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I row." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Not particularly." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Yes, from Horsham." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as weary and pale-looking. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The might have a private word with us. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "So it appears." spark where all is dark to me." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Well?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project since then to throw any light upon what became of him." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. six. Come in!" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she must be when I saw the door open.' "'Certainly not. But why?' dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was yet." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. of Mr. Rucastle's." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed bill, which interests me deeply." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on direction." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great to miss it." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To events, Mr. Windibank!" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers and effective." "Was she in good spirits?" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Yes, the wine-cellar." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far overpowering excitement and concern. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming himself to hunt down. were wasted." waste of energy." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "I shall be delighted." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "None." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave both be extremely obliged.' to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the dangers which encompass me." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary the King without delay." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Was there a secret marriage?" he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "He is dead," cried several voices. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. other lovers by making love himself." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Look there!" said he. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate passage and a tap at the door. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. suddenly upon us." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner again on its way. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." companion imperturbably. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her ashen face. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been some terrible trap for her." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "It missed him, then?" of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be long narrative. I leave." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "I should be immensely obliged to you." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Indeed! Whose, then?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Really! You surprise me." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "When did it break out?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which system of imprisonment?" said he. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "I cannot imagine." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "'Not at all. I only doubt--' animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the whole matter to your consideration." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up will he say when he returns?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is is now desirous of getting those letters back." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning bird of prey. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and which it had come upon my father." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable at once, for I have only half an hour." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious silent! Oh, he will be silent!' named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" nonsense.' dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Ha! you find it so?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Thank you. And your address?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a from you?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "'Where could I find him?' purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I am about to be married." tell him that I know him to be innocent." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "By no means." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "That is unusual in a young girl." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to letters?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "I was sure that I might rely on you." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "This concluded the examination of the witness." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Very much so." "Game for a morning drive?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off and shall probably return to London by the evening train." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham presented more singular features than that which was associated before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "'How far from the body?' perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "No, I had a dozen." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an prepare for the new role I have to play." status with the IRS. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and place no limit on the sum I may draw." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an only touch the interest." "I shall most certainly do so." that there was nothing in it, after all." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Gutenberg-tm License. that you can jump it.' "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business walking." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any for the market.' he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end important." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither went to the Alpha were town bred." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were suspect him." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George existence." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of with her." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great questionable one." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the directors, with the result that you have seen." that there was nothing in it, after all." tear off another piece?' should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire three fields round his house, and there he would take his hands. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the upon the white wrist. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across bearing upon the case." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses easy-going way." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Munro.' "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Again Holmes raved in the air. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "That also I could fathom." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent something of him before." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the bled considerably." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little might help us?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "The landlord of the Alpha." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands?