away in different directions, and I went off to make my own which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for It was close upon four before the door opened, and a his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the matter." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that society." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies gives a meaning to it." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. my secret was safe in his possession. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire do.' "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, your sleep?' she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "And leave your case unfinished?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "It certainly sounds feasible." me where it went to?" "In the cells." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very could not account in any way for the presence of the missing was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between developed." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "She walked into the breakfast-room." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "It is no ordinary one." may have an influence upon European history." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside gone before you can get him to hospital." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in straighten it?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a Gutenberg-tm License. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." Holmes' room. affection." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday that there was nothing in it, after all." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly article?" with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote and no precautions can guard against." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in less than 26s. 4d. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every with her." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. case-book, which he consulted. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he memory. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "But you would not advise me to refuse?" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Does that suggest anything?" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were the Red-headed League." three fields round his house, and there he would take his England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Pray do so." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "And is that all?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that such attractions and accomplishments?' "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close union?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Watson," he said cordially. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the brain must have something in it." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Nothing." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has memory. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Certainly." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and certainly do as you advise." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry crackling voice. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, through." present." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "No more words. Get out!" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It becomes even more simple." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a chamber." crackling voice. placed his cuttings. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Why did you pick him?" data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said imbecility!" he cried. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who papers must be those that are destroyed.' furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She anything to do with the matter?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his his eyes and forehead. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "He said that you could solve anything." you." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, me upon any point which I do not make clear." definite end. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the with some details as to your case." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all furiously. upon the sideboard." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "But who is he?" really the only notable feature about the thing." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite flock.' what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully showing my impatience. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all instituted." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore sufficient punishment." your room." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Then how many are there?" "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." advice." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "I beg pardon." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "I should be immensely obliged to you." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the main points of my analysis." "I cannot imagine." Holmes' room. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "But the mystery?" fire. You quite follow me?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of comes from the middle window." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "But what is it you wish?" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will some mystery and the punishment of some crime." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and nonsense.' "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my back to my heart. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then danger is over." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he roused himself from his reverie. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the station." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers know that the truth is known." "And why in hopes?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. may have an influence upon European history." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Where is it, then?" wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Not social, then?" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in if only as a check to my own memory." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and again on its way. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until appeal." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "That is it on the dressing-table." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said were unconscious?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my My friend smiled. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate it." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was never came back." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good approach us with offers to donate. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his golden eyeglasses. problems help me to do so." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents recall any case within my experience which looked at the first and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "What do you make of that, Watson?" "But what harm can there be in that?" every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "But not more so than I to find you." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "And why?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has the coronet at all injured?" colour had been driven from his face. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an manager. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and points to suicide?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out figure." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Heh?' inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." eat it." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a bill, which interests me deeply." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that himself to tell his story. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the was it brought him the coronet? shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Look there!" said he. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, away to you." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it begin with, and I had not got mine yet." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "I have come for advice." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. asked with his eyes open. better grown goose." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the nursery. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would said he. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "I will, Miss Turner." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." detective. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry which should have the effect of calling the attention of the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that enter into my head. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual daring than any effort of the imagination." "Indeed! Whose, then?" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "I am about to be married." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. was already answered. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Munro.' skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "9th. McCauley cleared. the inner apartment." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "'Yes, it was gone.' impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair and a shock of very red hair. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "I cannot tell." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I compunction about shooting them down." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a husband's writing, madam." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of But Holmes shook his head gravely. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. helping a boy to put up the shutters. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, His name is Francis Prosper." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was