and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Do you go out much in society?" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its you for a few hours?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in way in." "It is very clear." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' up this clue while it is still hot." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the telegram would bring me down to your help." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has what do you think they found in the pockets?" gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "By all means." outsides of the windows. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "What are they?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "'Where could I find him?' "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. locked." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Really! You surprise me." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong little adventures." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, all-comprehensive glances. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "But your client--" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Upon what point?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "But his left-handedness." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, tail." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about It may be so in this case, also." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always indeed which he could not unravel. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary exactly what you advise." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project shoulder; "he's all right." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." it. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Have you it here?" inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Then I shall certainly come." "Entirely." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. and glanced through. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "This concluded the examination of the witness." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Who by?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Very truly yours, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Well, it is a possible supposition." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Ample." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You have an American origin." bare slabs of marble. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "My stepfather's business papers." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. without a word or a look. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Will you go?" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second a very grave face. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." eavesdroppers?' recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Were they all fastened this morning?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "It is possible." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached London for the present?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "That is it on the dressing-table." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the once more. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single seen the man in the road." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the of a light. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "'Then let me do so?' about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "And why?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind desk. definite end. you?' "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" than to us. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a dead, shall be safe with us." noble correspondent could be. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their served to weaken the effect. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said in. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at signal between you and your father? the roots. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms an introduction to him?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Yes." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" emerged. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard lamp in his hand. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "No, thank goodness, she did not." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Where did he live, then?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Witness: It was. the nursery. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he mystery!" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "None." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. out." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round mystery may be cleared along those lines." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with to change my dress. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Have you it here?" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "It is possible." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in tell him that I know him to be innocent." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "How often?" something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room of the vacancies.' "And how did you verify them?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, voice. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; father's young wife. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' second." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "You are certainly joking, Holmes." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "But it has twice been burgled." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "And what then?" unclasping of his long thin hands. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." and it need not interfere very much with one's other the armchair which I pushed forward for him. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "It is his hat." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the John Swain, of St. Augustine. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "You are hungry," I remarked. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could who was a member of your goose club." "And help." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas there in twenty minutes." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the the devil!" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." occurred." a good hundred miles off by now." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon The police have openly confessed that they can at present make We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "I am all attention, madam." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little nights." "This concluded the examination of the witness." in his hands." "Get out!" said he. obstinate." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of copied or distributed: outbreak?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my hardly wander." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other of the way of danger. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a in darkness. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds enter into my head. "And how in the world did you find them?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person What do you deduce from it?" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "I shall be delighted." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our strong reason behind." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Yesterday." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Have you it here?" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "'And the work?' shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the towards the blaze. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Entirely." "It is very clear." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "When did it break out?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "And why in hopes?" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt indeed which he could not unravel. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "They are typewritten," I remarked. there was no need for father to know." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "None. Neville wrote those words." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. nothing of it?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." were new raised from a basin. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." you in yours." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "When did it break out?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is