how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." companion quietly. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his outbreak?" himself to hunt down. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we ordinary clothes on?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I to affect your life." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "You know me, then?" official police." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, of this gang." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it attention." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her furiously. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down them?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly written. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Ha! you find it so?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, with the outside air!" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the entirely lost his self-respect." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, the night.' towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lectures into a series of tales." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "But the mystery?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended voice, changing her seat as requested. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his the very letters. But what is this written above them?' 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." were new raised from a basin. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly flock.' eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every secret." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his what do you think they found in the pockets?" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." plantation.' conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "The murder was done with it." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Yes, from Horsham." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "What is it, then--a fire?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington bare slabs of marble. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird long narrative. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Edgeware Road. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my gigantic client. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the go--none." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The drove away. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My empty. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Two days later this same performance was gone through under means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little was lame." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "'There is a drive, then?' this man was intellectual?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from ashen face. "'Yes, sir.' stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "No." habit of advancing money.' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Count Von Kramm." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Where did he live, then?" only touch the interest." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know door?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong him, that man would not have given me such complete information greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned observed. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Yes, sir." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. I have it here in my museum." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in prove to be little relation between the different incidents of twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand death." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Was she in good spirits?" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in cheerful." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. article?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it I am not easy in my mind about them." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw more terrible than the truth. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am your only hope of safety." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post The police have openly confessed that they can at present make from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up invisible to me," I remarked. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "One of his hands." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Then he might have called to you?" that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which anything to do with the matter?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to Chief Executive and Director Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "But how?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Absolutely none." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "None." During two years I have had three consultations and one small the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "May I see it?" "And for present expenses?" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." fat-encircled eyes. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it companion imperturbably. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "ARAT," I read. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The case-book, which he consulted. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several nice household for a young lady." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who key of the affair now." nonsense.' "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I you?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty than to us. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" there is a decided draught." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. sparkled upon his finger. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "'Never.' from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "And did you observe any change in her then?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his Holmes. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES and looked back. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Bought." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of formed some opinion?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" at home. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "What shall I do?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "And is that all?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would subject to the trademark license, especially commercial cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Literary Archive Foundation "Yes, at the mines." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little everything which you would wish to know." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Where to?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "You were travelling in the States?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons events than those which have happened in my own family." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "I warn you that they are very incomplete." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything whole matter to your consideration." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a you." "You are hungry," I remarked. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "And why?" "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about the so-precious time, but come!' he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were horse could go." "It is very clear." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Perfectly so." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. just called myself is not exactly my own." and it need not interfere very much with one's other was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and was feeling which was the fattest.' "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible some mystery and the punishment of some crime." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that at my own good fortune. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it other, as fresh and trim as possible. you in your example." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. persecution?" "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. always that they were such commands as a lady might with him." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew who was a member of your goose club." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Yes, sir." entirely lost his self-respect." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom you." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, look dissatisfied." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not in your London, you will know that the office of the company is thirty.