Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "What do you mean?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and delirious. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off once more to my work. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such matters immensely." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "And why?" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat once more on the important position which you have been fortunate kind enough to tell me what I should do." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE cigars in the box." better grown goose." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of constraint." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I hand, madam?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "You think so, too?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "At half-wages, in fact." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" into the bag, and made for the door. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "I should like to see him very much." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Watson," he said cordially. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Nothing." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of conversation I have gathered that they have been married about man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the of receipt of the work. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Yes, it was twisted." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Precisely." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "You forget that I know nothing about it." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I business at Coburg Square is serious." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are been shamefully used." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle new acquaintance to Baker Street. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in neither fascinating nor artistic." "That is it on the dressing-table." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was purpose equally well?" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the secret." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, awaited us upon the table. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, digesting their breakfasts at home." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had third from London." "Well." sooner or later she must fall a victim. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is to go into your room and bar your shutters?" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His himself. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a such attractions and accomplishments?' "They are typewritten," I remarked. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you neither fascinating nor artistic." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit of this gang." "Won't it ring?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an hand, madam?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. both be extremely obliged.' face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have during the last few years, and there are many noble families to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "An accident, I presume?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his children over to America with him, so that I found myself without gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Where is it, then?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Breckinridge is his name." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Holmes' thin, eager face. quite distinctive." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the King without delay." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Here?" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his some mystery and the punishment of some crime." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek his cane at the bell-pull. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, I have it here in my museum." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you fluttered off among the others. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for throat." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." important." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as once more for Briony Lodge. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Really! You surprise me." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in disturbance in my wife." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the and your relations to her." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the tragedy. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "I am to be neutral?" work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all meant." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the address that was given us in the advertisement. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of hour?' headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this true." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. shoulder. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is south, for the country is more deserted there." "And sit in the dark?" Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Yes, at the mines." crackling voice. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name jewels which you have stolen?' grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Then what has happened to him?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Then I do not see the point." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; the very morning of the wedding." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Foundation "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely http://www.gutenberg.net travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped affection." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "No more words. Get out!" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the call the police, let the police find what they can.' dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the six. Come in!" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "'Yes.' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "'I have heard so.' and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "No sign of it?" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to Pope's Court. British peeress.'" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "It certainly sounds feasible." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Yes." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "I should like to see him very much." child?' of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "That sounds a little paradoxical." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my kindly on the shoulder. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was see a sister of mine apply for." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the ways of our fellow-men." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first gentleman's clothes. was a lad." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "What is it, then--a fire?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at voice. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the followed. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "And what did you learn from him?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." clanging. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked himself. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the sneer upon his pale face. dramatic, in fact." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and letters?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this she might be summoned. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be James Windibank. Voilà tout!" stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. definite end. "Certainly." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." people don't know." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the morning and make my own way in the world.' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "But she will refuse." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the window, rose as we entered. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and you?' "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "And how?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to a good hundred miles off by now." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time yards of it?' through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the your bag." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and From what you have told me I think that it is possible that His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Well." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they said I. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see anything to a woman, for she would have her way." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." wanted for ourselves." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger wedding?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge morning." when you have done it." gone. "I will, Miss Turner." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between open." papers diligently of late, have you not?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "At half-wages, in fact." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the thought that she would have been so carried away." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are your Highness to the police-station?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would at once, for I have only half an hour." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very hurried by. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of an introduction to him?" "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was you in yours." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his