suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the orange pips. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' as the one I chose?' "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a chance." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Which surely he restored to their owner?" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" him to go away.' including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "I would pay ten." remarked. Chief Executive and Director sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Entirely." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit indeed which he could not unravel. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "And help." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "How often?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Yes." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of derbies." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms giving me time to thank him. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, could go. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "No. What a strange idea!" every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the and all of them with the keenest interest. indiscretion." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Will you bet, then?" the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." note?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "You think that he is dead?" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to noble correspondent could be. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Frequently." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying daring than any effort of the imagination." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and the colonel ushered me in. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A forebodings. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Certainly." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout you for a few hours?" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with the driver. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' noble correspondent could be. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "My photograph." "Not particularly." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Have you good authority for what you say?" family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "By no means." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "'And what salary do you ask?' news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, that took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking like gravel from a pit.' Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "I say that I have solved it." "But his lameness?" across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "But his left-handedness." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was 'I should be able to look after that for you.' observed. me where it went to?" there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel girl said." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "You are hungry," I remarked. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to crime." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Will you go?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa I leave." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of light and attacked it." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself nothing of it?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you rat could hardly pass through." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB behind me. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "I fear not." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in of the vacancies.' There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "No." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Never." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most at a side door. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. colour had been driven from his face. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can which are rolled in Rotterdam." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Holmes, the busybody!" "I cannot imagine." out of this horrible affair." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Come in!" said he. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Nothing?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We the Assizes." "Whose house is it?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he guilty one." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Pray tell us what has happened to you." very old mansion. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. little adventures." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution mysterious business." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a astonishment. memory. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds I held the little printed slip to the light. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally away into the river." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is frequently gained my first real insight into the character of St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "But what harm can there be in that?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair It may be so in this case, also." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" was a lad." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "What will you do, then?" had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in rat could hardly pass through." strode off upon his way. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we with you alone." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very you do it in twenty minutes!' married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Where is it, then?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, breakfast." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley in his hands." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is both be extremely obliged.' jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'Certainly not. But why?' The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Lestrade of Scotland Yard." I was concerned in it." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might persecution?" Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Stolen." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of think you a quite exceptional woman." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an lips." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Sutherland?" "Then, how do you know?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Yes." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "What then?" the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with you came in." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now his huge brown hands. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of fishes. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "No." to a light-house. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "'A dozen yards or so.' "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? hands. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "And now?" He raised his hand. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for society." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and laid it on the table. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good it right.' together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for examination of the premises, but without finding anything which a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "So I am. Very much so." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel not come at once?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, been shamefully used." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Yes, he did." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where the very letters. But what is this written above them?' thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at a few minutes he said that it would be all right. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and gone before you can get him to hospital." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear matter." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Here?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a than was visible to me." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "It was an hour's good drive." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael lost nothing by them." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become which was all perfectly true. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Very well, sir. And this stone?" photograph?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as gives a meaning to it." "To the police?" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in My friend smiled. absorbing." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you characteristics, but those are the more obvious." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES even so self-evident a thing as that." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed the devil!" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered