surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, galvanised. lips." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I have solved it." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his once more to my work. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would where Mr. Fordham shows you.' But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send your billet.' coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if man. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the as noiselessly as she had come. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Stolen, then." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Gutenberg-tm License. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "And why?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Never to return." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" morning." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled whatever might befall. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the a little more before I quite committed myself. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short some mystery and the punishment of some crime." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few without a word or a look. my little problems." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "My Mary? Impossible!" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we it." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "It was a confession," I ejaculated. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Precisely." done what I asked you, Jones?" situation." indeed which he could not unravel. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Where, then, is my wife?" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, the window, rose as we entered. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his charged with?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "'It is locked up,' I answered. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive three of the beryls in it, was missing. shaken than I had ever seen him. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the retorted upon me, and I on you." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." handed it to him. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; fat-encircled eyes. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, make me his representative both with the servants and with the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Come in!" said Holmes. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading the window, rose as we entered. "But he might be a bachelor." not as remarkable as your advertisement." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, eavesdroppers?' as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "He said that you could solve anything." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Certainly." crowd. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "In San Francisco, a year ago." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even and a shock of very red hair. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Then, as to money?" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Not yet." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Who was the criminal, then?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. papers must be those that are destroyed.' gone. during that time.' I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not tail." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get matters immensely." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a you for a few hours?" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with morning." "'Oh, no.' appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "What! Had he lost his wife?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever your troubles." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to to arrive at through this?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I ceremony." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "You saw the ventilator, too?" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever to arrive at through this?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, the matter." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "It is very clear." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "Holmes, the busybody!" again, where I was soon asleep. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "How about poison?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "No good news?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what man. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "That you are never beaten." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with away into the river." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." problems help me to do so." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the Red-headed League." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to as this. Pray let me have the details." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in geese which you supplied to the Alpha." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "One of his hands." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he arrested. You then--" had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter mystery!" is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of be. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Ha! you find it so?" hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the late!' but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both main points of my analysis." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was interest. They are important, you understand, without being not personally threatened." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. than to us. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Your presence might be invaluable." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "It looks newer than the other things?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who nonsense.' railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of words came to my lips. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little friends, not even his own brother. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been know all about it," he snarled. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend leave you to your papers for a little." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, in his hands." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a that I can to serve you." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping into the bag, and made for the door. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Sutherland?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. enough to aid us in our search." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "And the murderer?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "A call for help, you thought?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of wall." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious article?" "What, then?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your were new raised from a basin. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. and that he would see to anything that turned up. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "'Yes, it was gone.' "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and out of this horrible affair." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Perfectly so." putting in the horse. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a papers diligently of late, have you not?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Surrey." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "I will try. What is it?" "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Have you her photograph?" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told highroad, where all traces were lost. ashen face. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a had picked up in the wood. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Breckinridge is his name." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an sound at heart." "Precisely." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any in a friendly supper." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in of receipt of the work. I took the paper from him and read as follows: little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear said he at last. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a way: "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I have come for advice." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." did not hear it also.' chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Tired-looking or fresh?" long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold