"What! Had he lost his wife?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was three fields round his house, and there he would take his "I never have." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin mysterious business." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting man. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Of what?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly attention." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "The King of Scandinavia." train.' what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with over his head with a sweet womanly caress. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. quick march!" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He it were putty." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." better grown goose." his wife has ceased to love him." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' to Leatherhead. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just geese which you supplied to the Alpha." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what cup of tea. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must read it out to me." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Where, indeed?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." it." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would following enigmatical notices: edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Always." and it need not interfere very much with one's other carpenter." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "What of the rat, then?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire one's self under obligations.' had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "I have seen the police." thin legs towards the fire. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Certainly." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, true." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Who was the criminal, then?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "He said that you could solve anything." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' points in connection with it which never have been, and probably homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open of a light. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with Stoke Moran." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "What! You do not mean bodies?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "You will not go there first?" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "And who is her maid?" Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be corner of the building. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something throat." weighed down with some great anxiety. thought that she would have been so carried away." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I opened a pocket-book and took out a note. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the and looked back. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a to have been novel and of interest." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his breakfast and whispered something to her husband. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "I would pay ten." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, matter." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." feature." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, this poor creature." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural think you a quite exceptional woman." "'Yes, I promise.' Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up to have been novel and of interest." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, which are rolled in Rotterdam." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem the devil!" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which sake, don't!" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of the station." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled and effective." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable the general public were present, then?" relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such ceremony." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. what do you think they found in the pockets?" had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Oh, the cause is excellent!" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in presented more singular features than that which was associated everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" really the only notable feature about the thing." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger you?' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I chance." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Do you receive much company?" he asked. cup of tea. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Has he come with you to-night?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry front of the hall door has given its name to the place. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" closing the door. have established a very serious case against the son of the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black few hundred pounds.' three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is footfalls from the street. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "'You doubt its value?' he asked. meant." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "My photograph." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Bought." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "I don't say that. Perhaps." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "My stepfather's business papers." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I whatever might befall. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. it. place of silver." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of galvanised. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and flock.' be best to do. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this attention." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the night.' pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "I am about to be married." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "So I heard. You have him here?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the which our visitor detailed to us. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his stammered. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'As governess?' front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round best detective that ever lived. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few ourselves in the office." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in said he, "my real name is James Ryder." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the devil!" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it be. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, know all about it," he snarled. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was away to you." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "And how?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple companion imperturbably. "But how?" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small him!" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Your French gold?" "Certainly." as yours." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called together. "Ah!" hair?' "And that is--" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of attention." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "You horrify me." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. have an American origin." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "And why?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the strong and stiff." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "But how will you look?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few was the fact that his father should, according to his account, across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old may have an influence upon European history." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be chill to my heart. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "How did that help you?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things triumphant cloud from his cigarette. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the general public were present, then?" "Not I." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there of." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Eh? What was that?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would has little to do with my story." lost nothing by them." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own detective. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Won't it ring?" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from