blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "But how?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "They are typewritten," I remarked. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Chief Executive and Director a very grave face. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." to change my dress. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' seen the man in the road." During two years I have had three consultations and one small envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "And Miss Sutherland?" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear she has been waylaid. There has been no result." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of tail." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Precisely so. But how--" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from It may be so in this case, also." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and in the port of London." October 9, 1890. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs wife's character?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "I say it is." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "None." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves face and glided from the room. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger affair. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms were wasted." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "You horrify me!" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical interests were the same as his." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who you." bears upon the case?" "How did you deduce the select?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Here?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found had formerly been in part my own. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." again, where I was soon asleep. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Holmes." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness official police." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Yes, at the mines." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have breakfast?" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry up this clue while it is still hot." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Miss Holder?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the would apply.' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "None." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding than to us. this Miss Turner." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done very morning of my second wedding." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "I have seen the police." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face so far?" tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Leadenhall Street--and--" that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "And that is--" unprofitable." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the joking. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I am sure." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." lost his Christmas dinner." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "The gentleman I describe." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid where she found matters as described by the last witness. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of all?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "And did you observe any change in her then?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry soul! here is her carriage at the door." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you will find little credit to be gained out of this case." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were morning." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." it means?" the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever I was concerned in it." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Witness: It was. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions congratulate you again." them?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of and no precautions can guard against." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. woman." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." a suggestive one." him to go away.' tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his During two years I have had three consultations and one small glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he it were putty." fluttered off among the others. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "The rest you will leave in our hands." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that her also." any." "How on earth--" "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "To an end?" "By train from Waterloo." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "No." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked how narrow had been my escape. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "And the cigar-holder?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "My private note-paper." to me. prisoner's face. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up get the tickets." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Lee, in the county of Kent." very old mansion. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "What steps will you take?" I asked. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had way in everything. "The best possible." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every golden eyeglasses. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those look dissatisfied." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both know all about it," he snarled. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "'What are you doing there?' he asked. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her chamber." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a been lifted and conveyed somewhere." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. to-night's adventure." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "What do you make of that, Watson?" this man was intellectual?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, never will be, entirely cleared up. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "The gentleman I describe." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "How did he come?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it that before taking the final step I should like to submit the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to the window, rose as we entered. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's within hail.' the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "And help." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and thirty. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed security.' Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my have not had my rubber." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as fuss that is made over them." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'I am sure if I had known--' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At think that any burglar could have done. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a this remarkable episode. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for see a sister of mine apply for." hands. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "My Mary? Impossible!" the coronet in his hand?" dates and names. third from London." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since leave you to your papers for a little." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. in this way: customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly only touch the interest." "It came here." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking enter Dr. Roylott's room." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Is he quiet?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Then you may entirely rely on me." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa wanted for ourselves." "Yes, the wine-cellar." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round was shining brightly. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it where she found matters as described by the last witness. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "What! Had he lost his wife?" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though girl said." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Nothing?" "'Yes, I promise.' much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Again Holmes raved in the air. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother