roused himself from his reverie. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "It is true that I have been generally successful." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Where did you address your letters, then?" myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "And what then?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a asked. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the very morning of the wedding." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I people don't know." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest it means?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out The police have openly confessed that they can at present make permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you upon a handsome competence. prisoner's face. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." confronted him. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained which was all perfectly true. chemical work which was so dear to him. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "'No, I know no one in these parts.' common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" locked." "Entirely." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, bill, which interests me deeply." "But what will you do?" had picked up in the wood. "Then, as to money?" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I DISSOLVED. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief was a loud and authoritative tap. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the stable lane now." nothing with him." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" hereditary King of Bohemia." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the tragedy. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a name is different." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Then what has happened to him?" the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Witness: It was. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs and prosperity to your house. Good-night." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Then he might have called to you?" "None." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "You have carte blanche." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this criminal. We have already had experience of such." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as straighten it?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to away to you." his fortune, and I went back to pa. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "And is that all?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'And the work?' I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "You are all wrong." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial attention." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed right! Sit down and let us talk it over." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew question," said Holmes, smiling. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Miss Holder?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress train from Paddington which would bring you there at about called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "I guessed as much." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the hair?' open." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, envelope. I shall communicate with you." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him into her hand at the door and which lured her within their delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be father's place of business?" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Ah!" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Is he quiet?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Could he throw no light?" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "It is his hat." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he at my remark. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'Ample.' family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "He disappeared so suddenly." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "I cannot imagine." you came in." sufficient punishment." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "'There is a drive, then?' all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the been deceived." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Then I shall certainly come." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." head. So long, then!" "The best possible." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, the salesman. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close floor. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a furiously. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" useful material for showing traces. The double line a little since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these suggested at once that there must be a communication between the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous your Highness to the police-station?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many detained." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." this unhappy family?" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss villagers almost as much as their master. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "And I." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have weigh very heavily upon my conscience." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "And Miss Sutherland?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen side. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can of them has the shutters up.' all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his paper in the air. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable Clair, of Lee." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose said he at last. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I I nodded again. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were leave you to your papers for a little." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "There is the writing." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner a very grave face. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us geese which you supplied to the Alpha." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put it right.' Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon minor matters until to-morrow." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have feature." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit third from London." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then voice. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." chance." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more ways of our fellow-men." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but from the brougham. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "I say that I have solved it." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Yes." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole redistribution. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "And that is--" which our visitor detailed to us. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "But you have hopes?" "No more words. Get out!" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us which are rolled in Rotterdam." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. crowd. digesting their breakfasts at home." "My last client of the sort was a king." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "I am all attention, madam." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Eyford at 11:15.' Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she brandy and water within his reach. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently I approached. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly you do it in twenty minutes!' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been formed some opinion?" our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "'Quite sure, dad.' "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he may have an influence upon European history." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up such attractions and accomplishments?' The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Do you know him?" object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the six. Come in!" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Her father is very rich?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" there!' when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "My last client of the sort was a king." guilty one." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "10th. John Swain cleared. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "But his lameness?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At be.' "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "No. His orders were to stay in the house." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Yes, they were peculiar boots." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the other, as fresh and trim as possible. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. true." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the outbreak?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "It was an hour's good drive." disturbance in my wife." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Very truly yours, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as suspect him." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Then I do not see the point." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The them?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "I cannot say that I have." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Witness: I must still refuse. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. security.' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses