resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his instituted." tell me that you intended to go into harness." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "No, I think that I'll take it." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "You horrify me!" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Not social, then?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Then I shall certainly come." held up the lantern and gazed about him. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some him!" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Texas, I think." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "I do." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this garden below. shall not find me ungrateful." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose furiously. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Farm upon the left." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's there in twenty minutes." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an perplexity from it to my illustrious client. happened." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES if I call to-morrow?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Clair, of Lee." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this the driver. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are begun to whiten, even as mine has." his forehead." "Why, what do you mean?" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway locked." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, over part of the map. "What do you read?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "What do you mean?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is the Assizes." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his following enigmatical notices: me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his made him keep the appointment." "It is his hat." to take care of herself." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were his eyes and forehead. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "How did you trace it, then?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He spare." crime." "There are none." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and visitors." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "On the contrary, this is the right side." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this over here." "Quite so. She has her freedom." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "It is true that I have been generally successful." woman." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an Sutherland?" away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "At half-wages, in fact." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the and wait." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "But his left-handedness." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the affection." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as fishes. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." crime. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." yourselves in at night?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given beyond words. said I. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "That is not always so easy." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." chill to my heart. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Quite so." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her matter." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in system of imprisonment?" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Look there!" said he. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one guilty one." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and friends, not even his own brother. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "There is the writing." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was some place of shelter and let the county police know what has have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Nothing?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. individual and becomes the badge of a society." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Then how many are there?" were wasted." "He slept on the premises." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. sneer upon his pale face. "Ample." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had me. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with emerged. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "But to whom?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his vanished into the darkness. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the question. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "How did you trace it, then?" Eyford at 11:15.' at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Pray let us have it, for all that." companion. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was His name is Francis Prosper." "By no means." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Bought." into the bag, and made for the door. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has have one." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "In answer to an advertisement." What do you deduce from it?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to it. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in daring than any effort of the imagination." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Precisely." "Stoke Moran?" said he. populous neighbourhood." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been had died away into the silence from which it rose. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "No?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity to go into your room and bar your shutters?" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging gone. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "And that is--" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of woman who has had her own way to make in the world. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Dirty?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was wall." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an gigantic client. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," morning." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "One of the highest in England." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "You are certainly joking, Holmes." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a ready to-morrow?' day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress pity, because in other respects you would really have done very guilty parties." "He disappeared so suddenly." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in arms and began to sob in a high treble key. danger is over." quick march!" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. matter." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my my secret was safe in his possession. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." fishes. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before felt?" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag whole matter to your consideration." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. tapping his fingers upon the table. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" point in the dark hollow of his hand. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Where did he live, then?" "Well, but China?" lamp in his hand. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in cup of tea. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Entirely." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall washing it down with a long draught of water. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." It may be so in this case, also." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt 'please.'" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "It missed him, then?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the are, I think, all that we need." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up fasten all the windows?" that he has suffered." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "I have come for advice." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. think that any burglar could have done. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' investigation." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "I see many objections to any such theory." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to to tackle the facts." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "'Ten to two.' "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few help us in this matter." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me appeal." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this infinite languor in his face. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. he died? recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress paper in the air. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly of the efforts of the United States government and of the better gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two families. Now for the facts. "Was he the only applicant?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "VIOLET HUNTER." towards the blaze. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the fasten all the windows?" events than those which have happened in my own family." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than that you wished to speak to me?' "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I Edgeware Road. your Highness to the police-station?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love as he remarks, very much against the son." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "On Monday." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Yes." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed acted in my house last night?" "Come in!" said he. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. nice household for a young lady." "And now?" I asked. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. II. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Eyford." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a