not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "I cannot imagine." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, later, upon the night of May 2nd." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "You are certainly joking, Holmes." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing goes." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob definite end. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project never will be, entirely cleared up. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, delighted to hear it," he said. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was fire. You quite follow me?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his suspect him." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go to where he stood hid behind the curtain. observed. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "That is possible." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt showing my impatience. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being During two years I have had three consultations and one small these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. hereditary King of Bohemia." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "My opinion is in no way altered." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern *** START: FULL LICENSE *** http://www.gutenberg.net north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in me where it went to?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "How do you know, then?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "'A dozen yards or so.' necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "I was sure that I might rely on you." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited four million human beings all jostling each other within the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but any little problem which you may submit to me." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." conduct the inquiry." "Stolen." it." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear crackling voice. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "But you can know nothing of this?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and morning." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" death." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small things are very often connected not with the larger but with the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the careless servant girl?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no rat could hardly pass through." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "I see no marks." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly upon the shelf for the interim." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but I shall communicate with you." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in been shamefully used." prepare for the new role I have to play." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in information in his hands the value of which he did not himself direction." client, rising. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and 'please.'" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the 11:15.' feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the sufficient punishment." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." stammered. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." me where it went to?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his of your young ladies.' a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that of receipt of the work. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards here and I will read it to you: her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which tightly behind him. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Yes, it would be as well." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "And how have you succeeded?" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It hour." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, relief. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that you came in." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad even of instruction." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! crackling voice. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. purpose of examination. bare slabs of marble. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." my room." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a friend's singular character. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was green of the new foliage. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "'Yes.' him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any asked. fattened it expressly for you.' had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Yes." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "I will not look." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was I have it here in my museum." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." three of the beryls in it, was missing. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt together. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole cigars in their mouths. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some been able to understand it, in a very few words. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and woman." "Is he quiet?" at home. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. my former friend and companion. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Dirty?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he to some other building. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British as he folded up the epistle. awaited us upon the table. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." certainly do as you advise." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "What have you to say now?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "You think that he is dead?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as both be extremely obliged.' "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as shadow pass over his face as I spoke. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a one which it was hard to resist. "I see many objections to any such theory." appeared upon the scene." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" were new raised from a basin. used to be." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do breakfast?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, in the dead of the night?' to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where acted in my house last night?" friend's singular character. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one lips." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her room. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "How are you getting on?" is entirely a question of barometric pressure." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "But how could you guess what the motive was?" one of the states of the Union." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come whole matter to your consideration." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "I was mad--insane." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally have not had my rubber." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. help us in this matter." the coronet in his hand?" the date of his supposed suicide." "And how?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has furiously. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, washing it down with a long draught of water. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If four million human beings all jostling each other within the events than those which have happened in my own family." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. weary and pale-looking. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the your own bird, so if you wish--" "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. them?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. assist you in forming an opinion." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Countess of Morcar's?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Have you her photograph?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself child?' newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with arms and began to sob in a high treble key. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "But you would not advise me to refuse?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Pray tell us what has happened to you." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Well." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Pool. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "She told me to ask you." tell me that you intended to go into harness." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "What will you do, then?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am murdered man." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, noble correspondent could be. notes," he said. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "I am in hopes that she does." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the bird of prey. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my fled together." persecution?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "What have you to say now?" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak child?' that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Yes." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "How did you deduce the select?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is my room." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to thirty. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put other means.' I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Where, then, is my wife?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback question," said Holmes, smiling. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Yes, only one." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was