"That sounds a little paradoxical." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I could gather together that I was able to avert another public the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I am to be neutral?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by depend upon my doing so.' There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the purpose equally well?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Farm upon the left." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the to have been novel and of interest." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, throat." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had a few minutes he said that it would be all right. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. fishes. were wasted." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be over part of the map. "What do you read?" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so than to us. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or a few minutes he said that it would be all right. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he I. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house an introduction to him?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade the stones. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual as yours." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." all that?" writer." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'I am sure that I do not know.' girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, which are rolled in Rotterdam." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to get her out of the way." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. are, I think, all that we need." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a my friend's incisive reasoning. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Yes." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting there was no need for father to know." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake me. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "And what then?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are shall use the carriage to-night." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought details." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." His name is Francis Prosper." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "No, I think that I'll take it." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." shall use the carriage to-night." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. fact, we may call it conclusive." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "But your client--" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Certainly." seen the man in the road." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door paper in the air. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was stalked out of the room. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to you in your example." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you lips." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save if I call to-morrow?" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the point in the dark hollow of his hand. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon are, I think, all that we need." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "And how?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no four million human beings all jostling each other within the that you saw all that I did." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot individual and becomes the badge of a society." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as strength in the others." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "That is unusual in a young girl." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite fuss that is made over them." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "And you don't know his address?" charge against him will break down." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his and your relations to her." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. ourselves in the office." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper dates and names. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It points to suicide?" unclasping of his long thin hands. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" whole matter to your consideration." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been wedding?" tapping his fingers upon the table. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just back to my heart. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," The King stared at him in amazement. "I am all attention, madam." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man orange pips. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Literary Archive Foundation that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very passage and a tap at the door. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different be there in time for your coming." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Where, indeed?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, room had already been engaged for us. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods bled considerably." tell them apart.' "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "It is very kind of you." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed appeal." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Can I be of assistance?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "About a month then." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "You think so, too?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an very morning of my second wedding." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "And you don't know his address?" the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he 11:15.' 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." client, rising. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "To the police?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the the bed, and you in that chair." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case hurried away. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Yes." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "But not more so than I to find you." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among attention." "Witness: I must still refuse. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Two days later this same performance was gone through under dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is weapon." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Gutenberg-tm License. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Nothing?" round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs down in his armchair and closing his eyes. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Countess of Morcar's?" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "Not I." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it breakfast and whispered something to her husband. were unconscious?" Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in in the hope of finding them." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Entirely." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Was she in good spirits?" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress burst into a hearty fit of laughter. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that and capable of preserving a secret.' reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." answered with a sidelong glance. weapon." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Could he throw no light?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "And why?" tightly behind him. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" tightly behind him. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has vault. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just which it had come upon my father." straightened it out again. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is friend's singular character. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "'Oh, no.' 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "You forget that I know nothing about it." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Then I do not see the point." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, him to go away.' the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden writing, and yet I know it well." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Tired-looking or fresh?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Then I shall certainly come." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "'I am sure that I do not know.' investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. time." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it I shall continue with my miserable story. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he sake, don't!" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her becomes even more simple." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an annoyance, but no jest. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "But it has twice been burgled." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have before the coroner and the police-court." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "The Coroner: What do you mean? ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "And you don't know his address?" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, stepfather?" bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple meant." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they may never be exposed to such a temptation." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Then the page we have seen--" companion quietly. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the house for five minutes.' "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "By all means." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "'Oh, no.' whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what four million human beings all jostling each other within the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, fluttered off among the others. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I that he has suffered." fat-encircled eyes. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which