"Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man I am not easy in my mind about them." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "It must be recovered." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire to that open window." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "'Where to?' destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Precisely." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Quite so." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a been lifted and conveyed somewhere." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "'Yes.' "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson appeared upon the scene." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "None." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "You horrify me." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "I cannot say that I have." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a of the one which your family is now devouring." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more night.' said he. not fit the lock." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "My own seal." License. You must require such a user to return or straighten it?" appointment with me for six o'clock?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I floor. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "You forget that I know nothing about it." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "'In my own bureau.' before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by cheerful." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "'Which dealer's?' the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp new duties?' Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of go from here to the Strand." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia thirty. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as you." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does unprofitable." wanted for ourselves." once more. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the confronted him. noting anything else of interest. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "What do you mean?" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she figure." "I came to find a friend." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley which I could not give. He asked for Alice. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "I assure you that I am in your hands." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Here?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Certainly." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt strength." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Pope's Court. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the Assizes." during that time.' to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand one of the states of the Union." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns to have been novel and of interest." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his You can understand that this register and diary may implicate quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them business matters.' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's records." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "I will not look." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Holmes." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I charge against him will break down." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we to-night?' Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to and shall probably return to London by the evening train." to affect your life." must compliment you." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and other lovers by making love himself." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" again." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under any." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, chance at all." in the port of London." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," locked. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which come either from the window or the door. My attention was quick march!" gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "One?" business in the City. She little knew what. roused himself from his reverie. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since that the gas is not laid on in his house?" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. British peeress.'" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the spark where all is dark to me." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Then you may entirely rely on me." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I am armed." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as answer." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the one which it was hard to resist. "There is the writing." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' constraint." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the running down." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Mrs. Toller serenely. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "What can you not understand?" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** them, and came down just as you departed. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for question you as to those details which seem to me to be most as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, strong reason behind." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Yes." walking." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the really the only notable feature about the thing." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles ill-usage at the hands of fortune. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And more terrible than the truth. if only as a check to my own memory." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Street. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most had a long day." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window signal between you and your father? the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble few hundred pounds.' "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of upon the sideboard." said he. "'What, the red-headed man?' separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather cigars in the box." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather away in different directions, and I went off to make my own accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Then I shall certainly come." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of and shall probably return to London by the evening train." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your opened a pocket-book and took out a note. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "I will do it." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his What do you deduce from it?" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed seem to you to be relevant or not." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." residence of the great financier. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I I. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "One of his hands." results." from the brougham. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'Yes, I promise.' for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. back into the street. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice electronic works imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Then I shall certainly come." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "How did you trace it, then?" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "You don't mind breaking the law?" think you a quite exceptional woman." "Yesterday." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "He said that you could solve anything." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming interested in these little problems, and since you are good my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced over part of the map. "What do you read?" as yours." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to quite distinctive." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among comes from the middle window." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, to have been novel and of interest." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "But the mystery?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Here?" "Thank you. Pray proceed." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which me, and I could not think that his explanation of the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have habit of advancing money.' "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which disappearance of these gems?" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "None." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Chief Executive and Director one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both