him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, off." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very are, and they are waiting for us." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a of Fenchurch Street." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. persecution?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "But his lameness?" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had it? Did I buy the geese off you?" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment call the police, let the police find what they can.' words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "You have compromised yourself seriously." "So I am. Very much so." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with cigars in the box." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his papers must be those that are destroyed.' was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are likely to be some crony of the landlady's." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "What then?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the awkward doing business with an alias." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, footfalls from the street. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal here and I will read it to you: "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Very much so." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "We must have a cab." the night.' "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Pray do so." any more." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at the King without delay." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting really the only notable feature about the thing." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must look upon these things in a different way." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, you." Sholtos." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to fish-monger and a tide-waiter." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Where, then, is my wife?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the so-precious time, but come!' serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "No." and capable of preserving a secret.' fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no late." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your into the bag, and made for the door. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "On Monday." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was breakfast." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "It looks newer than the other things?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check yourselves in at night?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the loss of it. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did His name is Francis Prosper." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public prison!" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the golden eyeglasses. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me he bowed and left the room without another word. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." that, and I came down." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "And how did you find out?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. eat it." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If felt the room to be a little close.' "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "No." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a upon the sideboard." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' think, you have already met." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to key turn in the lock." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "'Where could I find him?' "My dear Holmes!" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Could he throw no light?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with believe that I should never have any practice at all. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in sneer upon his pale face. morning." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending gives a meaning to it." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "No, distinctly professional." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "You have carte blanche." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three works. See paragraph 1.E below. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while we went to search for him, face downward in a little say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my ago." answer." and the whole place is in a blaze." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the your billet.' among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond hour." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as your bag." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which my former friend and companion. touch that coronet?' even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my dates and names. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, him, that man would not have given me such complete information Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey to affect your life." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you have been better. It is all right." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Do you know him?" are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly sufficient punishment." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the vanished into the darkness. "He is dead," cried several voices. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE must be when I saw the door open.' shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Yes, but only for you and me." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" to have been novel and of interest." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Proceed, then." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will something of him before." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Where did he live, then?" autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his away in different directions, and I went off to make my own keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with delirious. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Was the window open?" "Nothing?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more one else, I think." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "That was it, sir." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident from the brougham. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can towards the blaze. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Which are?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that imbecility!" he cried. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' dead, shall be safe with us." been able to understand it, in a very few words. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw death." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Nothing?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I am to be neutral?" "None. Neville wrote those words." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a straightened it out again. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her that you saw all that I did." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Sutherland. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable I am not easy in my mind about them." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, might have a private word with us. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the direction." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the King without delay." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation true." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: to have been novel and of interest." you." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the been deceived." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "On Monday." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and his huge brown hands. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The appeared upon the scene." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Certainly." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." tail." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret strode off upon his way. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates crackling voice. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Then he might have called to you?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. I nodded to show that I had heard. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. from the brougham. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. meant it for the best. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "'I have heard so.' "'Where to?' houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "'It is locked up,' I answered. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was it right.' he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Not yet." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Yes, sir." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his have not had my rubber." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "But I am all in the dark." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle quite distinctive." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in in the dead of the night?' late!' "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very business." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "An accident, I presume?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. rat could hardly pass through." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "I cannot tell." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's peculiar to him. over part of the map. "What do you read?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "My photograph." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy article?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." against a man in the prime of life?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Yes." it." good-night and bustled off upon her way. problems help me to do so." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "You have the photograph?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked