your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has over his head with a sweet womanly caress. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all as he remarks, very much against the son." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "I would pay ten." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might weapon." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither will take you up to see the machine.' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "In what way?" asked Holmes. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "None." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few such person." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek must compliment you." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Henry Baker is a member." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "It must be recovered." despair." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "And the cigar-holder?" "Where to?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step me." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Nothing." "And why?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in to surprise her." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. handed it to him. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has notes," he said. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. prepare for the new role I have to play." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the begun to whiten, even as mine has." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this beyond words. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air the general public were present, then?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "'As governess?' been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything showing my impatience. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his absorbing." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "What shall I do?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story his grey eyes. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. hardly wander." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have compunction about shooting them down." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Thank you. And your address?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "You are all wrong." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the strode off upon his way. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Certainly." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which my special province." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "No." think that he is innocent?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "But to whom?" "You think that he is dead?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have question," said Holmes, smiling. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all main points of my analysis." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by frequently gained my first real insight into the character of he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "At the wedding breakfast." occupations.' anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his official police." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "'As governess?' with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and call for protection in the marriage market, for the present ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as ordinary clothes on?" Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took events, Mr. Windibank!" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to morning." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "But to whom?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having flock.' business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Do you receive much company?" he asked. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom I have it here in my museum." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "'Which dealer's?' "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "'What are you doing there?' he asked. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Lestrade of Scotland Yard." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would answer." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "She will not sell." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you character. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Where is it, then?" night.' said he. "That sounds a little paradoxical." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Yes, only one." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my the inquest, and which are worth considering." him. "I was mad--insane." "What then?" "But who is he?" weighed down with some great anxiety. arrested. You then--" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "What then?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang singular points about the case. What did the police think of the like gravel from a pit.' Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than helping a boy to put up the shutters. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the date of his supposed suicide." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our fear." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The than was visible to me." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'It is locked up,' I answered. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is crowd. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a new acquaintance to Baker Street. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "'I have already given you my word.' what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in matters immensely." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Holmes' face clouded over. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "I will do it." think you a quite exceptional woman." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" fashion which was peculiar to him. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "How can you tell that?" his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my experiences." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Then, as to money?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "I do." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "I will do it." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "What is it, then--a fire?" The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you what I may call a really hard day's work." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the he. said I. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the inquest, and which are worth considering." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" my friend's incisive reasoning. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, conceal it?" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to John Swain, of St. Augustine. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of know all about it," he snarled. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Will you go?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My geese which you supplied to the Alpha." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you desk. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Come in!" said he. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of suggested at once that there must be a communication between the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any other, as fresh and trim as possible. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror tapping his fingers upon the table. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we should be taken.' "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two companion. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, examine." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house DISSOLVED. The King stared at him in amazement. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a official police." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "I see many objections to any such theory." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight appeal." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Your presence might be invaluable." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to than was visible to me." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my it." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really not use it unless it is absolutely needed." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Holmes, the busybody!" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no everything which you would wish to know." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "The best possible." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and she used." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty and no precautions can guard against." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "'Is purely nominal.' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are fact, we may call it conclusive." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at him!" "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one too. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Seven!" I answered. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Then you may be so with me." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the nursery. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a His name is Francis Prosper." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came in my life." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "But how?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his you?" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the ceiling. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid to-night?' accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to October 9, 1890.