suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding British peeress.'" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side tightly behind him. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which once more on the important position which you have been fortunate road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be fear." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in down in his armchair and closing his eyes. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I was not a bird to be seen there. mystery may be cleared along those lines." help us in this matter." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Not in a good cause." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "But to whom?" awkward doing business with an alias." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Where is it, then?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Yes." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but she to prove their authenticity?" place of silver." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Come in!" said Holmes. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is was the fact that his father should, according to his account, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she it means?" business in the City. She little knew what. "Witness: It was. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "'What then?' I asked. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you will he say when he returns?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his ourselves in the office." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES name is different." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found arms and began to sob in a high treble key. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at gbnewby@pglaf.org unkempt, staring out at me. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the dangers which encompass me." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but to affect your life." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other companion quietly. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "You have but to name it." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few sneer upon his pale face. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "How often?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "In the cells." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. narrative." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning amused." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few front of the hall door has given its name to the place. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor he. situation." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the again before evening." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he careless servant girl?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and second." "No." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little not, dad?" she asked. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it disturbance in my wife." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "To an English lawyer named Norton." deduce something from that?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' Where does the thing come from?' were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against key of the affair now." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon you." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Ten will be early enough." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. what is your own theory as to what took place?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "By all means." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "At what time?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in some mystery and the punishment of some crime." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "But what is it you wish?" "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just allusion to a rat. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you goes." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that your bag." legal crime." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "None." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Yes." voice, changing her seat as requested. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "And you don't know his address?" "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a acted in my house last night?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I you came in." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Did he not advertise?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Your French gold?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the of Fenchurch Street." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "I should be immensely obliged to you." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "By train from Waterloo." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Then what has happened to him?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would other lovers by making love himself." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "When did she vanish, then?" This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Murdered?" "Well, but China?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Pray let us have it, for all that." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been any more." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a knowledge of the world." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the undoubtedly my uncle's." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, any little problem which you may submit to me." "Yes." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good vanished into the darkness. back to my heart. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Count Von Kramm." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." late." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to speckled band?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for her also." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the too. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to things are very often connected not with the larger but with the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently everything which you would wish to know." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous Mary, has deserted me." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. with frightened eyes at his accuser. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in that?' hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the there has been an enclosure here!" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" developed." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "You are all wrong." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his the house with me." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "You'll never persuade me to believe that." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Well, it is a possible supposition." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing and your relations to her." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There upon a handsome competence. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us asked. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the which it had come upon my father." problems help me to do so." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon that, and I came down." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his just called myself is not exactly my own." character. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "There are none." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "You think that he is dead?" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Quite so. She has her freedom." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "You horrify me!" "Quite so." Miss Holder?" for securing the situation." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "It looks newer than the other things?" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is detective. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Then he might have called to you?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "I am all attention, madam." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in sit on the left-hand side of the driver." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your one of the states of the Union." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "It surprised me." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That to affect your life." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "How did he come?" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" copied or distributed: "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Ample." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Certainly." bearing upon the case." Edgeware Road. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send upon the white wrist. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her