myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about 'please.'" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" voice. appointment with me for six o'clock?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very them?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Yes." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the your room." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no served to weaken the effect. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Miss Holder?" without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! some terrible trap for her." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the that I can to serve you." make me his representative both with the servants and with the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Just look it up, then." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you closely." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I mystery." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Witness: Nothing definite. arrested. You then--" "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "I am following you closely," I answered. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece Mary, has deserted me." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a the stable lane now." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Frequently." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. papers." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to think that he is innocent?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Yes?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. tail." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, a room. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Pray tell us what has happened to you." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they details should find their way into the papers. Inspector off." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Yes." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to already referred to. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Were they all fastened this morning?" Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of to surprise her." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They out of this horrible affair." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ call for it in person on Monday morning.' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Then I do not see the point." "10th. John Swain cleared. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. I nodded to show that I had heard. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an to tackle the facts." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Sutherland. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "'Then let me do so?' agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then likely to be some crony of the landlady's." rooms." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do detained." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round everything which you would wish to know." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "At the wedding breakfast." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Well, some hundreds of times." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just that I may have something better before very many minutes are "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it late!' front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several tied." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the as this. Pray let me have the details." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy room had already been engaged for us. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a back to my heart. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Breckinridge is his name." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the may never be exposed to such a temptation." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming not personally threatened." "It is no ordinary one." stammered. "None." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham chemical work which was so dear to him. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face least a most suspicious remark." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Certainly." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "But how did you gain them?" her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a security.' with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined a very grave face. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Have you it here?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been felt the room to be a little close.' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can joking. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can fluttered off among the others. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." least a fellow-countryman. "I have solved it." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "I cannot say that I have." the running down." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet this poor creature." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' away into the river." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Certainly." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is you." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Now, then, what's the last entry?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water The telegram which we eventually received came late one night I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There hands. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the 1.F. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the the devil!" way: found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair me. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and key of the affair now." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as will he say when he returns?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor lips." against a man in the prime of life?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from respectable self." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, was shining brightly. showing my impatience. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" as noiselessly as she had come. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' she has been waylaid. There has been no result." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as started for the Temple to see my husband. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Not I." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "No legal papers or certificates?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "We have tried and failed." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. them present such singular features as the strange train of about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a it were putty." know what is wrong with it.' disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long meant." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "How did you deduce the select?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the through." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We nights." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year fashion which was peculiar to him. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "I don't say that. Perhaps." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm himself in a perplexing position. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some coroner's jury." this poor creature." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "What! a murderous attack?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the south-west, I see." room had already been engaged for us. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six should be so warm over such a trifle." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "The Cedars?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving shoulder. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "There are none." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "To an end?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her showing my impatience. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, mysterious end." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found never came back." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage was already answered. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his name is different." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "That is it on the dressing-table." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that never will be, entirely cleared up. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, written, and locked the door of the office after me. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three one of the states of the Union." exactly what you advise." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack.