"Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a would apply.' hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "That is unusual in a young girl." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "An accident, I presume?" back alive. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her fat-encircled eyes. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home carried out of court." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a You want to know what became of those geese?" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "'Most admirably.' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might said he. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father the roots. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, must be when I saw the door open.' "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then entirely devoid of interest." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The matter." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." out of this horrible affair." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "Not him." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements woman." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Then how many are there?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Why did you pick him?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "It was an hour's good drive." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was and capable of preserving a secret.' piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Your sister is dead, then?" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "You don't mind breaking the law?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, least a fellow-countryman. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There a monotonous occupation." "None." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at dear old homesteads?" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose easy-going way." conceal it?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses asked. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the side-table." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "And that is--" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they of them has the shutters up.' "I will do it." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then or in danger--" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "What can it mean?" I gasped. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the at once, for I have only half an hour." "But it has twice been burgled." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Farm upon the left." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was unprecedented a position." province." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a and files of the old papers, following the future career of every walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the The summons was a brief and urgent one. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Witness: I must still refuse. "If so, much may have happened between." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by present." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Doctor, of the paper and the date." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." 'please.'" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his have not had my rubber." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy business." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for key turn in the lock." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Never." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Countess of Morcar's?" "And is that all?" see a sister of mine apply for." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, been." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of be.' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together tightly behind him. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a affection." man. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "What office?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which returning from some small jollification and was making his way husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "And you can do nothing until then?" geese which you supplied to the Alpha." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of dramatic, in fact." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "But how did you gain them?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Yes, all." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my 1.E.9. written. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the Doctor, of the paper and the date." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out III. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Yes." John Swain, of St. Augustine. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was eat it." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "In answer to an advertisement." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "My private note-paper." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and said he. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Certainly, madam." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Then how many are there?" friends, not even his own brother. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Edgeware Road. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls characteristics, but those are the more obvious." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with the bottom.' "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'Very good.' "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I six. Come in!" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "You have compromised yourself seriously." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "You horrify me!" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the crime. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be name is different." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire business came to an end." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he you want, then?' have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been murdered man." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in row." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he trifles." and capable of preserving a secret.' "I see no marks." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "I will get her to show me." he. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my province." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "What! a murderous attack?" danger is over." imbecility!" he cried. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Absolutely none." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "10th. John Swain cleared. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in easy-going way." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing situation." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Yes, the wine-cellar." I think that I could be of assistance to you." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Yes, I have one waiting." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "You horrify me!" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was have not had my rubber." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible a room. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "But how will you look?" instincts rose up against that laugh. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found and have this put in the evening papers." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Precisely." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "The Cedars?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he highly," said Holmes. "None." young Openshaw's." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions in one or two places in England?' attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, danger is over." "My private note-paper." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming possible that we could bring him back to her? "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall in his hands." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I see me here to avoid scandal." our word." "'Most admirably.' very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical whereabouts. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Frequently." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away in a friendly supper." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of she used." "That is possible."