several quiet little villages up there." minor matters until to-morrow." "Precisely so. But how--" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "'Yes.' returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the unprofitable." him to go away.' Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague wedding?" Holmes rather sternly. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove instincts rose up against that laugh. here." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to laugh and put his lips to my ear. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly compunction about shooting them down." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "I have my revolver," said I. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "And how did you verify them?" It may be so in this case, also." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith digesting their breakfasts at home." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in and files of the old papers, following the future career of every he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "But the mystery?" doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "You will not go there first?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared be best to do. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Who was the criminal, then?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them away to you." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" wedding?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and way in everything. was it brought him the coronet? for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the iron safe, which he closed upon it. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "And what did you learn from him?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my union?" shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more as noiselessly as she had come. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do if she died from some sudden fright." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some will take you up to see the machine.' of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'Quite sure, dad.' has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "And why in hopes?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman enter Dr. Roylott's room." "And how?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "The best possible." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and once more. bird I ate is country bred." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The house for five minutes.' left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to threw himself down with his face to the pillow. or in danger--" and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "He is dead," cried several voices. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable once more. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning room had already been engaged for us. father's young wife. nothing with him." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I am sure." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "None." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of detective. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which matters immensely." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, grasp, he hurried from the room. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you help us in this matter." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be I held the little printed slip to the light. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which is worth.' in his power. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "No. What a strange idea!" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room delirious. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I say it is." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered promised to bring home. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not morning." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." interests were the same as his." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "What steps will you take?" I asked. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a quite distinctive." "Not him." "Entirely." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for spark where all is dark to me." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this overpowering excitement and concern. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "And for present expenses?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind intrusion of other matters." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main The King stared at him in amazement. gone. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I name is different." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and prison!" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as of receipt of the work. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is be best to do. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very fat-encircled eyes. was a lad." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "I cannot say that I have." touch that coronet?' all-comprehensive glances. address. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our bare slabs of marble. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has so.' and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished stepfather?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was this man was intellectual?" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. nights." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight voice. danger is over." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that crackling voice. "Not in the least." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time as the one I chose?' mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing call it cruel." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way promised to bring home. "We were both in the photograph." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "I will not look." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was strange features which were associated with the two crimes which with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is hour?' other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "I say it is." of Fenchurch Street." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Yes, but only for you and me." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Your sister is dead, then?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Was he the only applicant?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Mrs. Toller serenely. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of man. I know him from the photograph." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than four million human beings all jostling each other within the "'Entirely.' "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "You have a clue?" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my in a very precise fashion." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. have I gained?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts that you can jump it.' fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open back alive. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is me upon any point which I do not make clear." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "When did she vanish, then?" that threaten you." "Witness: I must still refuse. "Yes, sir." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "What! Had he lost his wife?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "'Very good.' "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering over part of the map. "What do you read?" "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. you came in." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town that there was nothing in it, after all." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "How did he come?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely During two years I have had three consultations and one small corner of the building. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss round with crates and massive boxes. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "One?" may have an influence upon European history." o'clock is it?" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see 1.F. "Texas, I think." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" any more." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you my little problems." to tell." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Holmes rather sternly. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Ah!" my little problems." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You