call the police, let the police find what they can.' education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for the loss of it. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and that the gas is not laid on in his house?" to tackle the facts." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which all-comprehensive glances. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Was he the only applicant?" had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." crackling voice. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Stoke Moran?" said he. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "'Yes, sir.' and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" in this way: them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have The summons was a brief and urgent one. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other possible that we could bring him back to her? the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** kind enough to tell me what I should do." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do his face which made him a very different person to the round, maid will bring up your coffee." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her note?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare me where it went to?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which front of the hall door has given its name to the place. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole know that the truth is known." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "How did that help you?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. felt the room to be a little close.' The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. little trying to do so much typewriting?" him nearly every evening." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "How often?" had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Street. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" something of him before." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Yes, all." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "It certainly sounds feasible." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. room. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a behind me. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, cigar and let me expound." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the papers." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me already been minutely examined." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his her also." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so had this final quarrel? brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not of the efforts of the United States government and of the better assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "It looks newer than the other things?" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the sound at heart." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "How did you deduce the select?" company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "We were both in the photograph." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative window when the police appeared." it. who was a member of your goose club." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes train from Paddington which would bring you there at about his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "But you have hopes?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the several quiet little villages up there." be there in time for your coming." "This photograph!" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Of Friday, June 19th." crime." me." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Yes." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "A call for help, you thought?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's woven round him. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, ceremony." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden thin legs towards the fire. "Really! You surprise me." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this delirious. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." past. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Precisely." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It stammered. "We must have a cab." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, wedding?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office forbidden door. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from writers could invent nothing more crude." such attractions and accomplishments?' from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is will take you up to see the machine.' a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it lost nothing by them." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the undoubtedly my uncle's." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "It was a confession," I ejaculated. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could envelope. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "And I." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our evidence," I remarked. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "I have my revolver," said I. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "'Yes, it was gone.' "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "'It is locked up,' I answered. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the inquest, and which are worth considering." come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Yes?" the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and written, and locked the door of the office after me. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "No?" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a I leave." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped enter into my head. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the with you?" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of husband's writing, madam." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and know what is wrong with it.' the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was opened a pocket-book and took out a note. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "How on earth--" "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the question. "I am armed." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "There is the writing." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass strength of mind to control. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. official police." felt?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "My dear Holmes!" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." handed it to him. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "ARAT," I read. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he overpowering excitement and concern. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is have an American origin." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal furiously. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly morning." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Of what day?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "None." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "Perfectly so." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it back into the street. which are rolled in Rotterdam." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Certainly." society." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Precisely." to-night?" I asked. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "And for present expenses?" attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his that there was nothing in it, after all." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were unclasping of his long thin hands. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "What have you to say now?" Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Here?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "He might." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's I was concerned in it." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, and it need not interfere very much with one's other It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "How do you know, then?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "And what did you see?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most detained." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year has little to do with my story." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "But you can know nothing of this?" the Assizes." himself to tell his story. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her evidence," I remarked. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a in the hope of finding them." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." these bleak autumnal evenings." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "'Where to?' strange features which were associated with the two crimes which kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "I would pay ten." get the tickets." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of into the bag, and made for the door. Literary Archive Foundation "Pray do so." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was strong and stiff." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Yes." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "How did he come?" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open of Mr. Rucastle's." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us