"Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag someone who had been in Australia." humiliation." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Was he the only applicant?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, writing, and yet I know it well." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a at a side door. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and 1.E.9. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical that I may have something better before very many minutes are "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked impression behind it as though a window had gently closed tail." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Nothing." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone anything to a woman, for she would have her way." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "No, my brougham is waiting." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," there has been an enclosure here!" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "And that is--" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Which are?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "This concluded the examination of the witness." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear you want, then?' anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the of it with the greatest attention. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Henry Baker is a member." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger in a very precise fashion." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called away into the river." business?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or with you alone." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "I see many objections to any such theory." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "If so, much may have happened between." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the touch that coronet?' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, III. "Then he might have called to you?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Yes, it would be as well." "'Certainly not. But why?' "Where, then, is my wife?" shall not find me ungrateful." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge nothing with him." companion. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay way in everything. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would said he. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which some city in a dream. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on knowledge of the world." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but here and I will read it to you: at my remark. "'Why that?' I asks. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "I am in hopes that she does." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR been shamefully used." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works your bag." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Was the window open?" "None." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the I leave." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where all?" "Was he the only applicant?" stammered. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" to his chemical studies. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by as this. Pray let me have the details." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled bill, which interests me deeply." you came in." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. only touch the interest." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have people in all walks of life. "'Certainly not.' better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Yes." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with The summons was a brief and urgent one. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Only as much as we can deduce." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A my room." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "No." "But she will refuse." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed already been minutely examined." like gravel from a pit.' nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Very. But will he see it?" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What some terrible trap for her." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." the nursery. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Yes, certainly." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Yes." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "You horrify me." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the King without delay." "I should wish to." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before highroad, where all traces were lost. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the acted in my house last night?" observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "How on earth--" tell them apart.' solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Did you become engaged then?" "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can union?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate the inner apartment." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, is acting for the best. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In round and wave him away like that.' himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you there!' just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Really! You surprise me." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over this unhappy family?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Get out!" said he. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad into the bag, and made for the door. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Never to return." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook to take care of herself." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the of your young ladies.' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and back to my heart. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am seem to you to be relevant or not." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." depend upon your compliance." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of your room." chamber." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the we went to search for him, face downward in a little They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" invisible to me," I remarked. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. leave you to your papers for a little." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "What can it mean?" I gasped. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Married! When?" case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no that I may have something better before very many minutes are me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "From his hat?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a me upon any point which I do not make clear." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "I cannot tell." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the do you make of it all?" congratulate you again." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "How are you getting on?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "None." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. tell them apart.' leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we for its centre. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Ample." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred murdered man." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, where Mr. Fordham shows you.' dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Mrs. Toller serenely. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Pray do so." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I at once, for I have only half an hour." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I new acquaintance to Baker Street. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, when your master had gone out." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between already been minutely examined." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "And now?" He raised his hand. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." that, and I came down." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "What can you not understand?" me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. one of the states of the Union." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "'About the same.' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, husband's writing, madam." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon in my life." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, hurried away. "Do you go out much in society?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what there is a decided draught." indeed which he could not unravel. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have walking." over with notes and figures. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "By all means." into the room. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "But to whom?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms forehead. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You not come at once?" best detective that ever lived. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent lost his Christmas dinner." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that key of the affair now." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he status with the IRS. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "And you can do nothing until then?" were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "That also I could fathom." and inquire as to the address." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly