police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign situation." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right man. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end said he. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given know all about it," he snarled. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Is he quiet?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in of." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do into the bag, and made for the door. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train himself to hunt down. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and passage and a tap at the door. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a events, Mr. Windibank!" "She showed me, as I told you she would." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Because he was handy and would come cheap." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." Edgeware Road. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "You have compromised yourself seriously." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently what do you think they found in the pockets?" Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "'Entirely.' in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to closely." brandy and water within his reach. said he. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an him and tried to hold him back. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the nice household for a young lady." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Proceed, then." them?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "And how did he make his money?" the coroner come to?" me have 200 pounds?' authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's for securing the situation." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was particular state visit http://pglaf.org "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his companion quietly. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more guilty one." think you a quite exceptional woman." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door retorted upon me, and I on you." "'Where to?' paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Were they all fastened this morning?" ready to-morrow?' "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "It is his hat." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and I have it here in my museum." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Witness: Nothing definite. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the is so. I know all about McCarthy." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry to me. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler grasp, he hurried from the room. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and begun to whiten, even as mine has." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "My dear Holmes!" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." fasten all the windows?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, think you a quite exceptional woman." "And Miss Sutherland?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Pray do so." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded problems help me to do so." "Yes." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Did he not advertise?" to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether experiences." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "'I shall certainly be there.' with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. sufficient punishment." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project could not have written that. It is the German who is so were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your dramatic, in fact." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time cigar and let me expound." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A characteristics, but those are the more obvious." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I his fortune, and I went back to pa. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, your co-operation." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the strong reason behind." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an during the last few years, and there are many noble families to waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "And from a noble client?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire swore that no one else had been in the front room during the soul! here is her carriage at the door." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a in a friendly supper." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: and I shall be with you presently." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part woven round him. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few and capable of preserving a secret.' Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at once more to my work. questionable one." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Yes." anything to do with the matter?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight the south-west, I see." felt the room to be a little close.' perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing locked. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got friends, not even his own brother. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain strange features which were associated with the two crimes which floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush little adventures." least a most suspicious remark." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all are, and they are waiting for us." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And will not take me long to tell. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "What steps will you take?" I asked. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Certainly." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in could go. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to three of the beryls in it, was missing. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "I don't say that. Perhaps." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in information in his hands the value of which he did not himself have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Munro.' Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Clair, of Lee." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's were new raised from a basin. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another instituted." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble ran thus: permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes she has been waylaid. There has been no result." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be showing my impatience. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the appeal." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Holmes, the busybody!" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp because she had spent so short a time in this country that she leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "I assure you that I am in your hands." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being character. and have this put in the evening papers." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "It was." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the chambers. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Precisely." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "But how?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are place, I think that there is good ground to think that the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "And Irene Adler?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Yes, sir." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow several quiet little villages up there." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his again." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater Holmes rather sternly. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the roots. events than those which have happened in my own family." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon could go. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about opened a pocket-book and took out a note. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'Certainly,' I answered. "Whose house is it?" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could without success. At last the little money which I had saved began regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some business." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "No, I am descending." vault. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Perfectly so." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and you give your casting vote to?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most into the bag, and made for the door. suspect him." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "That also I could fathom." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, papers must be those that are destroyed.' now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk better in every way that they should make their position a little the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with sooner or later she must fall a victim. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "But I have heard all that you have heard." "We were both in the photograph." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, problems help me to do so." "I have come for advice." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never ourselves in the office." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "What do you make of that, Watson?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Heh?' entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself drawing your inferences." you do it in twenty minutes!' standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, again, where I was soon asleep. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the the stable lane now." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." furiously. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Absolutely?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, which I could not give. He asked for Alice. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from over with notes and figures. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There absolutely follow my advice in every respect." during that time.' while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood straightened it out again. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Perhaps I have." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers.