good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that have had none more fantastic than this." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where fishes. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three and the whole place is in a blaze." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for not come at once?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at returned to France?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Witness: I must still refuse. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter colour had been driven from his face. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is green of the new foliage. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he returning from some small jollification and was making his way knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of right! Sit down and let us talk it over." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Then I can wait in the next room." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent such attractions and accomplishments?' occupations.' makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "'About the same.' this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should if she died from some sudden fright." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little once more. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "I am to be neutral?" another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away minor matters until to-morrow." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in sake, don't!" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have the coronet in his hands?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged it were putty." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "'What then?' I asked. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at for the market.' of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold see me here to avoid scandal." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'Is 4 pounds a week.' the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project to have that photograph." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one memory. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "'What would be the hours?' I asked. business in the City. She little knew what. nonsense.' instincts rose up against that laugh. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure from the brougham. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Nothing?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "What office?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this new acquaintance to Baker Street. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "What! Had he lost his wife?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Yes." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Really! You surprise me." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on it." the one as in the other." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "I am sure." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune fat-encircled eyes. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Of what day?" "I say it is." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so chair. "I am sure." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "I fear not." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no introspective fashion. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about answered with a sidelong glance. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be business in the City. She little knew what. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot dear old homesteads?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then to change my dress. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I as he folded up the epistle. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. straighten it?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one point in the dark hollow of his hand. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, morning." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "9th. McCauley cleared. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. gentleman's clothes. even so self-evident a thing as that." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a Sholtos." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I late!' dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into to-night?" I asked. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I to Leatherhead. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do floor. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no morning." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the hour." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Then I can wait in the next room." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went leave you to your papers for a little." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a unkempt, staring out at me. to-night's adventure." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a key turn in the lock." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Did your wife hear all this?" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Where did he live, then?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "I will try. What is it?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor helping a boy to put up the shutters. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" name is different." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "But you were on a friendly footing?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself the running down." matter." to his chemical studies. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "My own seal." "Her father is very rich?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "And your mother is alive?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "'Which dealer's?' There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Where to?" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It colonel looking down at me. so.' "I am all attention, madam." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both memory. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "We were both in the photograph." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "You are all wrong." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "But not more so than I to find you." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "I will get her to show me." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Then, how do you know?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before presented which may be striking and bizarre without being she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my second window is the one that I jumped from." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he hour." place of silver." straightened it out again. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "How do you know, then?" opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this dates and names. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Not I." second window is the one that I jumped from." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "None. Neville wrote those words." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "No good news?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "I have my revolver," said I. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, License. You must require such a user to return or them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Yes, the wine-cellar." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Not in a good cause." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Did he not advertise?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. directly by questioning you." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from happened." what I may call a really hard day's work." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back appeal." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little could not have written that. It is the German who is so master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, golden eyeglasses. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "And I say east," said my patient. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Yes." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to once more for Briony Lodge. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Have you good authority for what you say?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can to-night's adventure." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, maiden herself was most instructive." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter useful material for showing traces. The double line a little imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "No, but the enclosure is." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my before, for it was considerably after midnight. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable eavesdroppers?' which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Well?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, a room. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment like that before?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to room?" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "The doctor?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very money should be paid at once.' some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Won't it ring?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Absolutely?" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "One of his hands." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Yes." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is certainly not very gracious." asked. closing the door. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "Never." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "My dear Holmes!" Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us,