so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who have accepted such a situation. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "At what time?" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Street. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "My dear Holmes!" a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most had picked up in the wood. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a closely." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "'What then?' I asked. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce here." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." third from London." "Upon what point?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and shoulder; "he's all right." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every criminal. We have already had experience of such." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a might have a private word with us. of Fenchurch Street." how narrow had been my escape. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. http://gutenberg.net/license). way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. this remarkable episode. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Your French gold?" whether it answered to the description of any of their centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "A confidential servant?" passage and a tap at the door. stepfather?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate if I call to-morrow?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: done what I asked you, Jones?" hopeless attempt at recovering them." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "But she could not love him." quite distinctive." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him himself to tell his story. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce lids now and glanced across at his visitor. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another thirty. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" drawing your inferences." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight comes from the middle window." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Yes, it was twisted." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked any." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "He said too much." records." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Of what day?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Was the window open?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "You have it, sir, just as it happened." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "And I say east," said my patient. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from present strange and interesting features that it is no easy X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an unclasping of his long thin hands. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "I should be immensely obliged to you." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "No. What a strange idea!" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air lips." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "It is very clear." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "What can you not understand?" them present such singular features as the strange train of butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "How did you trace it, then?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "I assure you that I am in your hands." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this new acquaintance to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said shoulder; "he's all right." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every me, and I could not think that his explanation of the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to me. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way province." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down there has been an enclosure here!" central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the key turn in the lock." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "And how?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. over with notes and figures. Edgeware Road. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones fait accompli?" "On your arm?" detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and been anything against him. He had for years been known as a Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "That is unusual in a young girl." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to him. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "No, finished." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; coroner's jury." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "'Stolen!' he cried. "And your father? Did you tell him?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with at once, for I have only half an hour." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough gives a meaning to it." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I conversation I have gathered that they have been married about and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I American. Then who could this American be, and why should he post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms suggested at once that there must be a communication between the over with notes and figures. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire your room." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the child." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "My own seal." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young have established a very serious case against the son of the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his points in connection with it which never have been, and probably reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without forehead. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It six. Come in!" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Pray do so." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "I think that it is very probable." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "'Yes, sir.' sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "What do you make of that, Watson?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited society." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he to his chemical studies. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "I think that it is very probable." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Upon what point?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, weighed down with some great anxiety. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, know all about it," he snarled. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "And now?" I asked. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your closely." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Pray do so." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is the very letters. But what is this written above them?' back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "And how did you verify them?" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed you in your example." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own man. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry ordinary clothes on?" weighed down with some great anxiety. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. and your relations to her." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying intimate personal affairs in this public manner." morning." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of quite distinctive." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is again before evening." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled ashen face. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "I will not look." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the get the tickets." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no stalked out of the room. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in at my own good fortune. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by unkempt, staring out at me. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not been anything against him. He had for years been known as a XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by populous neighbourhood." easy-going way." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Leadenhall Street--and--" compunction about shooting them down." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain to change my dress. "I will get her to show me." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "'Is purely nominal.' "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. beg that you will break it off." long narrative. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and page at http://pglaf.org you?' was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Not yet." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. little trying to do so much typewriting?" "When did she vanish, then?" and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It London for the present?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The knees of his trousers." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "One?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" bird I ate is country bred." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in one of the states of the Union." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against highroad, where all traces were lost. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "The doctor?" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his all-comprehensive glances. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the