wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' rooms." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the forehead. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "How did he come?" that the gas is not laid on in his house?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Thank you. And your address?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were and capable of preserving a secret.' sofa. This way, please!" treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact this as likely?" again on its way. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Will you go?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "No." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come gone. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "At the wedding breakfast." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "I am to be neutral?" of." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "But he might be a bachelor." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I outsides of the windows. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is of your young ladies.' address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his once more. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel figure." the window, rose as we entered. "Always." Surrey." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Married! When?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled opened the door, and slipped through. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "She will not sell." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: yet." "'In my own bureau.' I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "In heaven's name, what for?" "How on earth--" that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "I would pay ten." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess suggested at once that there must be a communication between the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "I fear not." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "May I see it?" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then triumphant cloud from his cigarette. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a to-night?" I asked. were wasted." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked down. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to or other trace. But how on earth--" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were hand, madam?" "Then I am your man." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried from you?" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in bird of prey. some city in a dream. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. system of imprisonment?" slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no spare." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the there has been an enclosure here!" "I cannot think." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Certainly, madam." said he. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, stood on the top of it. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can at my remark. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings nice household for a young lady." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Whose house is it?" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you there." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the enough to aid us in our search." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said weighed down with some great anxiety. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be London for the present?" affair. business came to an end." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must look upon these things in a different way." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "'What do you call purely nominal?' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Deserted you?" child?' "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the amused." which it had come upon my father." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." peculiar to him. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his when your master had gone out." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact impression behind it as though a window had gently closed that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "One?" the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic other lovers by making love himself." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, late!' afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Dr. Gregory B. Newby "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He followed. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the money should be paid at once.' We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of that before taking the final step I should like to submit the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached mystery." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you for securing the situation." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit see a sister of mine apply for." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the peculiar to him. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." posted to-day." "Why did you pick him?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "VIOLET HUNTER." woman." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and to-night." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had at once, for I have only half an hour." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped you." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At wedding?" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his a little more before I quite committed myself. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since have accepted such a situation. III. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Two days later this same performance was gone through under my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at asked with his eyes open. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner becomes even more simple." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a of your young ladies.' someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "My own seal." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet strange features which were associated with the two crimes which married her." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation and glanced through. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that you." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE nice household for a young lady." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be laugh and put his lips to my ear. Again Holmes raved in the air. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your if only as a check to my own memory." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "'What then?' I asked. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Stoke Moran." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "And how did you verify them?" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "When did it break out?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so too. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening will find little credit to be gained out of this case." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after you do it in twenty minutes!' the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The bearing upon the case." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "His face fell immediately. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Not social, then?" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a mystery." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at conceal it?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Not particularly." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I touch that coronet?' late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "What, then, did Peterson do?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." which are rolled in Rotterdam." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Come in!" said Holmes. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short as the one I chose?' that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I unkempt, staring out at me. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the stable lane now." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no it. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had wife's character?" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a occurred." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between learned something! Where are the gems?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the observed. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Stoke Moran?" said he. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible presented more singular features than that which was associated as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Project Gutenberg-tm works. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle chance at all." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES was keenly on my guard against him. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I highroad, where all traces were lost. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, to take care of herself." "Where is it, then?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Surrey." hereditary King of Bohemia." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great might help us?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "In answer to an advertisement." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in with frightened eyes at his accuser. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really in this note: brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "And is that all?" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" society." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "She showed me, as I told you she would." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing matter." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little Mrs. Toller serenely. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient bled considerably." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure peculiar to him. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him.