"Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "I say that I have solved it." of his shoulders. "Why did you beat the pavement?" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend cost them two and thirty pounds." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not call for protection in the marriage market, for the present 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "If so, much may have happened between." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "You are certainly joking, Holmes." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with of." too. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by weighed down with some great anxiety. directors, with the result that you have seen." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring golden eyeglasses. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I forebodings. must compliment you." that I can to serve you." "I cannot tell." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our I shall continue with my miserable story. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Yes." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then of Mr. Rucastle's." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of room. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the that I can to serve you." sofa. This way, please!" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, had died away into the silence from which it rose. strong reason behind." was lame." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. at once, for I have only half an hour." of the way of danger. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your weapon." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "What then?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is beg that you will break it off." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable without a word or a look. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Always." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Stolen, then." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to she slowly sank and died without having recovered her facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian tassel actually lying upon the pillow. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of I took the paper from him and read as follows: fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his of Mr. Rucastle's." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the individual and becomes the badge of a society." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small chambers. "Really! You surprise me." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it eat it." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "How did you trace it, then?" other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Was she in good spirits?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter of the one which your family is now devouring." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "To an English lawyer named Norton." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Won't it ring?" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Tired-looking or fresh?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which pierced for earrings?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress use an arc-and-compass breastpin." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of weighed down with some great anxiety. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to up this clue while it is still hot." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Get out!" said he. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Cross for the Continent." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I bill, which interests me deeply." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a lips." congratulate you again." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Of Friday, June 19th." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Holmes. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and his fortune, and I went back to pa. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which fluttered off among the others. national property. I was determined that the law should have its as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "'Yes, I promise.' Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought was it brought him the coronet? "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Of what day?" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the me. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of him and tried to hold him back. outsides of the windows. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "'About the same.' permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be see a sister of mine apply for." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my again before evening." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the miles off. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill again." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, a very grave face. astonishment. forebodings. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a that I may have something better before very many minutes are you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: here and I will read it to you: transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it round with crates and massive boxes. "I was mad--insane." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." the general public were present, then?" all?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out little trying to do so much typewriting?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "It was an hour's good drive." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until was used.' dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in second window is the one that I jumped from." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' paper in the air. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. weary and pale-looking. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "And on what day did he meet his death?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "'I have already given you my word.' circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "'I have heard so.' half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and the coroner come to?" "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "What I expected to see." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that fire. You quite follow me?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few get the tickets." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "'What do you call purely nominal?' answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? with you?" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property John Swain, of St. Augustine. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss neither fascinating nor artistic." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end to take care of herself." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have strength of mind to control. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who *** START: FULL LICENSE *** and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "'No, I know no one in these parts.' know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered never came back." fear." digesting their breakfasts at home." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Was there a secret marriage?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Murdered?" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Then I do not see the point." as the one I chose?' reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while with you alone." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "His face fell immediately. arrangements." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "But what harm can there be in that?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and derbies." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Married! When?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to voice, changing her seat as requested. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "'No, I know no one in these parts.' the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the child." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a late!' but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT sound at heart." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to later, upon the night of May 2nd." maiden herself was most instructive." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was the Assizes." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and it right.' Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made outside. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to entirely devoid of interest." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened it." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my ago." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united the night.' Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the asked. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Dr. Becher's." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of