in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then in the port of London." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt what is your own theory as to what took place?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. ordinary clothes on?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'In my own bureau.' as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. the salesman. presented more singular features than that which was associated right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "I answered that I had not. daring than any effort of the imagination." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the tell them apart.' "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two long narrative. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another to-night?' morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" questioning and rather startled gaze. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Yes, but only for you and me." "But how?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He have one." "Yes." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Who was the criminal, then?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was overpowering excitement and concern. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. shaken than I had ever seen him. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the bird I ate is country bred." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this enough to aid us in our search." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with least a most suspicious remark." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this something of him before." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great helping a boy to put up the shutters. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "What! You do not mean bodies?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "This photograph!" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his that there was nothing in it, after all." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or strength." hard-headed British jury." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Were they all fastened this morning?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you light and attacked it." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "And from a noble client?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. events than those which have happened in my own family." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar you understand?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Then what has happened to him?" you." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of It was close upon four before the door opened, and a have I gained?" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with likely to be some crony of the landlady's." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I touch that coronet?' Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul for its centre. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, bonnet, and went out." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the head. So long, then!" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door been with you?" been able to understand it, in a very few words. "He said that you could solve anything." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are again, where I was soon asleep. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he ashen face. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, individual and becomes the badge of a society." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." think, you have already met." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." hands. people don't know." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Who by?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest had died away into the silence from which it rose. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "He is dead," cried several voices. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "I think that I had better go, Holmes." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather furiously. late." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "The gentleman I describe." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses business came to an end." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the window, rose as we entered. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had you." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about towards the blaze. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be sound at heart." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they just ask you whether you had heard it.' been shamefully used." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed you for a few hours?" late!' would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was forecastle of an emigrant ship. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen that I can to serve you." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning The note was undated, and without either signature or address. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "But his lameness?" tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Holmes' face clouded over. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that 1.F. crowd. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage threw himself down with his face to the pillow. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Did he not advertise?" posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' him to go away.' shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "It surprised me." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you upon a handsome competence. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery tightly behind him. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a his wife has ceased to love him." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. dramatic, in fact." "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Yes." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. relief. bird of prey. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Where, indeed?" Holmes." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are occurred." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from plantation.' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Was he the only applicant?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are I was concerned in it." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." best detective that ever lived. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "And leave your case unfinished?" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "And when will you call?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Stolen, then." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Upon what point?" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of bedroom door." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Literary Archive Foundation "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "I should be immensely obliged to you." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to The summons was a brief and urgent one. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Sutherland?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, in his hands." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than this man was intellectual?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Whose house is it?" hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in green of the new foliage. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." amused." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a seem to you to be relevant or not." other lovers by making love himself." "What! Had he lost his wife?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. me. village inn over there?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it down in his armchair and closing his eyes. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. careless servant girl?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the window, rose as we entered. 11:15.' marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, depend upon my doing so.' "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we photograph?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted some terrible trap for her." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to them?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "It was." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon you understand?" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been this man was intellectual?" away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should to arrive at through this?" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments goes." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "It is a murder, then?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend man. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "None." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, it right.' "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to never will be, entirely cleared up. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of From what you have told me I think that it is possible that go back?" legal crime." him and tried to hold him back. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "'And what are they worth?' I asked.