sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" prisoner's face. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "How often?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "You have a clue?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "By all means." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working London for the present?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my recall any case within my experience which looked at the first begun to whiten, even as mine has." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes all that?" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past intimate personal affairs in this public manner." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Yes, but only for you and me." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "'Never.' office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "It was an hour's good drive." business." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to when your master had gone out." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the gigantic client. "At the wedding breakfast." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His the bed, and you in that chair." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a http://gutenberg.net/license). reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in carried out of court." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "In the cells." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a and capable of preserving a secret.' of the vacancies.' across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while words came to my lips. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which that I am arrested." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers bird of prey. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of the warnings." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "I shall most certainly do so." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "That also I could fathom." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the address. note?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "'What then?' I asked. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "'What, the red-headed man?' weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in it right.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "So I am. Very much so." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical was not a bird to be seen there. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet danger is over." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from said he. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried fattened it expressly for you.' unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE said I. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "She will not sell." "But to whom?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take back into the street. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy unkempt, staring out at me. into the bag, and made for the door. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at hurried by. "I am still in the dark." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully of them has the shutters up.' Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen me." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "That you are never beaten." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they and capable of preserving a secret.' Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." heavy and sharp instrument." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "And how did you verify them?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after maiden herself was most instructive." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the night.' outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of to his chemical studies. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Watson," he said cordially. "A confidential servant?" spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses results." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it bill, which interests me deeply." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." became a certainty. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent fluttered off among the others. entirely devoid of interest." Foundation through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his joking. "How on earth--" 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Of Friday, June 19th." "Proceed, then." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the keep the flames under. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been success. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Yes." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when thirty. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. least a fellow-countryman. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most drove away. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Where does the thing come from?' shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "But his lameness?" her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and other means.' "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Then I can wait in the next room." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside felt?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Really! You surprise me." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "And why in hopes?" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "In answer to an advertisement." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "But how will you look?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." acquaintance?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "Your French gold?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which tear off another piece?' company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only weighed down with some great anxiety. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "But you can know nothing of this?" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'Yes, sir.' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'And the work?' that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." upon the sideboard." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "But you have hopes?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my cost them two and thirty pounds." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of hurried by. "There are none." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether yourselves in at night?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of chair. putting in the horse. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the coronet in his hand?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Then I shall certainly come." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, into the room. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "One of his hands." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. crackling voice. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not was a lad." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Yes." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his outside. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity events, Mr. Windibank!" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform becomes even more simple." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a ready to-morrow?' "And sit in the dark?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "But how?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it burst into a hearty fit of laughter. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You the inquest, and which are worth considering." to arrive at through this?" ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" tell him that I know him to be innocent." "At half-wages, in fact." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the so-precious time, but come!' "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her happened." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face