"'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "And how?" as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "I have solved it." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a four million human beings all jostling each other within the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the fire. You quite follow me?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as showing my impatience. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Then I can wait in the next room." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the Red-headed League." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Was the window open?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. despaired of." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Yes, sir." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you remarked. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a your only hope of safety." you in yours." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "It is very kind of you." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Then the page we have seen--" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Then I do not see the point." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Never." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I trifles." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, morning." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will I leave." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "And I say east," said my patient. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, not personally threatened." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "By all means." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "'Yes, it was gone.' self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the salesman. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy I held the little printed slip to the light. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "You have compromised yourself seriously." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were round with crates and massive boxes. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the to have that photograph." your sleep?' "'And the work?' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with your billet.' in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO searched, without anything being found which could incriminate seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Just look it up, then." "Stolen." "On your arm?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a feature." "But your client--" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a had died away into the silence from which it rose. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger all-comprehensive glances. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, to-night?" I asked. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and may never be exposed to such a temptation." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property nonsense.' "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the hurried by. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and very old mansion. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Won't it ring?" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the house with me." "My stepfather's business papers." "And you don't know his address?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "On Monday." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "'And the work?' possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "To ruin me." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, companion quietly. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "And how did you verify them?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the whatever might befall. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "None." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, served to weaken the effect. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "But I have heard all that you have heard." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "No, I had a dozen." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with this man was intellectual?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further with you?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have said Mr. Holder. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "I do." "Certainly." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "It certainly sounds feasible." "The gentleman I describe." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to your sleep?' that there was nothing in it, after all." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate strode off upon his way. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would the window, rose as we entered. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings unprecedented a position." in this way: "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. sneer upon his pale face. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Nothing?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into as this. Pray let me have the details." "Yes." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week appeared upon the scene." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune noise which awoke you from your sleep?" DISSOLVED. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "In answer to an advertisement." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Nothing?" watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of a good hundred miles off by now." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "I have seen the police." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were clang of the bell. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. a monotonous occupation." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "Nothing." an introduction to him?" hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which to where he stood hid behind the curtain. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. confronted him. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in place, I think that there is good ground to think that the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "No." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." acted in my house last night?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "And you don't know his address?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who the one as in the other." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "I will not look." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Project Gutenberg-tm works. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. appeared upon the scene." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good you for a few hours?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Holmes' face clouded over. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you cup of tea. may never be exposed to such a temptation." detective. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES quite distinctive." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the lamp in his hand. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. him!" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "I have seen the police." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "The knees of his trousers." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards four million human beings all jostling each other within the green of the new foliage. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to not personally threatened." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are distance from the station, and there we found the young lady public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have vague figure huddled up in the darkness. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable bare slabs of marble. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom his forehead." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that and that he would see to anything that turned up. the loss of it. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." meant." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the waste of energy." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts From what you have told me I think that it is possible that questioning and rather startled gaze. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question tell them apart.' months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "She will not sell." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Will you go?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle distinguish the words: Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "I have come for advice." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, acquaintance?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, within hail.' "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my written, and locked the door of the office after me. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "I cannot think." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "'I am sure that I do not know.' the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the that I am arrested." excitement. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of in the hope of finding them." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "No legal papers or certificates?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera