her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic system of imprisonment?" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the if only as a check to my own memory." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I done what I asked you, Jones?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the I held the little printed slip to the light. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat dramatic, in fact." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. to change my dress. individual and becomes the badge of a society." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "I should like to see him very much." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too get her out of the way." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Yes, all." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand for its centre. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Which are?" who was a member of your goose club." was shining brightly. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "And why in hopes?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "I am about to be married." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their make me his representative both with the servants and with the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "How many? I don't know." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the bottom.' like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the The summons was a brief and urgent one. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On morning." "But I have heard all that you have heard." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Chief Executive and Director "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each detective. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" here and I will read it to you: little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Pray do so." definite end. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of once more. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment lectures into a series of tales." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and burst out into a roar of laughter. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Who was the criminal, then?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with over with notes and figures. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Chief Executive and Director Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing back alive. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Thank you. And your address?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "There is the writing." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Texas, I think." fasten all the windows?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar some place of shelter and let the county police know what has British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. some water from a caraffe. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "I was mad--insane." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a have not had my rubber." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length showing my impatience. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, hand, madam?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it it. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his in his power. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Not in the least." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Sutherland?" ceremony." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of and have this put in the evening papers." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. behind me. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Texas, I think." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a second window is the one that I jumped from." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw married her." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for occupations.' rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** once more for Briony Lodge. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "A client, then?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Only as much as we can deduce." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this Sholtos." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Foundation "'In my own bureau.' said I. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Dark enough and sinister enough." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "The Coroner: What do you mean? particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "And sit in the dark?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her promised to bring home. never will be, entirely cleared up. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed again, where I was soon asleep. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the little opening for the ventilator is." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "But of what society?" us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for miles off. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Not social, then?" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent despaired of." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and mysterious business." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the time." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and some city in a dream. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we it with his own hands." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the all that?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole strength." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, handed it to him. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "If so, much may have happened between." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "But to whom?" name is different." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, opportunities to fix the problem. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "We have tried and failed." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "But you can know nothing of this?" "'I shall certainly be there.' room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest most important business. It is probable that he will be away all firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom mystery may be cleared along those lines." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a completely overtopped every other consideration that we both in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently my little problems." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I cannot imagine." highly," said Holmes. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Who by?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Then I can wait in the next room." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Ten will be early enough." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "I don't believe it." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling leaning back in his chair. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a humiliation." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Who was the criminal, then?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and husband's writing, madam." "Yes." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide said he. "Yes." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that little adventures." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told ordinary clothes on?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life depend upon your compliance." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "'It is locked up,' I answered. like gravel from a pit.' vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the shall use the carriage to-night." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "'Certainly,' I answered. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips mystery." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A and wait." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the coronet in his hands?" pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at round with crates and massive boxes. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep or in danger--" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Pool. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress photograph a cabinet?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential papers on the sundial.'" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. little trying to do so much typewriting?" perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had neither fascinating nor artistic." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "It must be recovered." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not this truth that in these little records of our cases which you although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, the Assizes." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his people in all walks of life. hands. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to in this note: "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. neither fascinating nor artistic." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "And I say east," said my patient. "So I am. Very much so." rat could hardly pass through." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "And what did you learn from him?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Why did you beat the pavement?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. pound a week." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. not personally threatened." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As digesting their breakfasts at home." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that if she died from some sudden fright." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Yes, but only for you and me." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "But how could you guess what the motive was?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes.