"It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "I cannot imagine." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or have accepted such a situation. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "And it is--" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own His smile broadened. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Nearly eleven." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the are, and they are waiting for us." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in the tragedy. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or note?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was sound at heart." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the of Fenchurch Street." enter into my head. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be your only hope of safety." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "No. What a strange idea!" lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a question. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that a good hundred miles off by now." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Certainly." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on murdered man." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales easy-going way." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the morning and make my own way in the world.' this Miss Turner." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "I have a cab outside." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Come in!" said he. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Just look it up, then." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If 11:15.' "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his I have it here in my museum." in a very precise fashion." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards straighten it?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own me." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist people don't know." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his or other trace. But how on earth--" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Will you bet, then?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, my friend's incisive reasoning. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come his huge brown hands. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "'Yes, I promise.' the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her said Mr. Holder. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was hour?' vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "'Which dealer's?' in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Very truly yours, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of fasten all the windows?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which Serpentine Avenue. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot recall any case within my experience which looked at the first presented more singular features than that which was associated The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Certainly, madam." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In more terrible than the truth. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "It looks newer than the other things?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely absolutely follow my advice in every respect." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, manager. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "'As governess?' petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made off." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb empty. "When did she vanish, then?" "But his lameness?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the I nodded again. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" bird of prey. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that desk. "Witness: It was. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Where, indeed?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather gbnewby@pglaf.org "'You doubt its value?' he asked. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. prisoner's face. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "None." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. your equipment. promised to bring home. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Precisely so. But how--" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this him to be an active member of the medical profession." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the stalked out of the room. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I ceremony." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were have accepted such a situation. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I don't believe it." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and she might be summoned. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the coronet in his hand?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is ready to-morrow?' beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "And what did you see?" our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two reach." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A http://gutenberg.net/license). fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of are, and they are waiting for us." details." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without have not had my rubber." galvanised. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "You think that he is dead?" "What will you say?" should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. official police." carriage. It was a chestnut." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves once more. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. voice, changing her seat as requested. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "The doctor?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried formed some opinion?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" was lame." in his power. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Your sister is dead, then?" whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "It's nothing of the kind." any more." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." just ask you whether you had heard it.' "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" of the one which your family is now devouring." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours a good hundred miles off by now." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, upon the white wrist. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the running down." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so brain must have something in it." upon a handsome competence. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it cost them two and thirty pounds." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the until night should bring an explanation. "What, then, did Peterson do?" What do you deduce from it?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal direction." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "My opinion is in no way altered." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Certainly." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third in a very precise fashion." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the any little problem which you may submit to me." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I tell me that you intended to go into harness." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was License. You must require such a user to return or "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent whether it answered to the description of any of their It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." train.' ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced pound a week." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid these bleak autumnal evenings." clang of the bell. "She walked into the breakfast-room." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "I would pay ten." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Was he the only applicant?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not lamp in his hand. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I warn you that they are very incomplete." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the enter into my head. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Witness: It was. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with make me his representative both with the servants and with the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "In the cells." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was developed." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' him and tried to hold him back. "Married! When?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some papers diligently of late, have you not?" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this heavy and sharp instrument." "Really! You surprise me." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn have I gained?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to