jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. infinite languor in his face. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and inquire as to the address." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I Henry Baker is a member." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part it? Did I buy the geese off you?" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving The King stared at him in amazement. Street. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but everything which you would wish to know." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "I don't say that. Perhaps." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be kindly on the shoulder. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Never." "Not particularly." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for see a sister of mine apply for." what these perils are?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Dark enough and sinister enough." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "'I shall certainly be there.' expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the a suggestive one." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and before, for it was considerably after midnight. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt swore that no one else had been in the front room during the at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. the stable lane now." not, dad?" she asked. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." money should be paid at once.' the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Yes, sir." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "That's no good." "Nothing?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "What shall I do?" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time it." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and open." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. standing smiling on the door-step. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Yes." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "They are typewritten," I remarked. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I was mad--insane." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did depend upon your compliance." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, legal crime." "Is he quiet?" what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these sofa. This way, please!" list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "And how did you verify them?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which which was all perfectly true. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not of the vacancies.' about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' one which it was hard to resist. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I returning from some small jollification and was making his way phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my crime. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met about here speaks of his kindness to him." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." girl said." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "'I am sure that I do not know.' Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and exactly what you advise." "And it is--" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot little trying to do so much typewriting?" laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was are, and they are waiting for us." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped enough to aid us in our search." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love carriage. It was a chestnut." "It is very kind of you." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his questioning and rather startled gaze. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Well, it is a possible supposition." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if bears upon the case?" details should find their way into the papers. Inspector the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old or in danger--" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when From what you have told me I think that it is possible that silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "I will do it." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting me, and I could not think that his explanation of the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "But I am all in the dark." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its strength in the others." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me little trying to do so much typewriting?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" touch that coronet?' Street. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case never to learn it at all." said he. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Did he not advertise?" say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to that threaten you." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker house for five minutes.' very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between might help us?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and speckled band?" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to me, and I could not think that his explanation of the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not footfalls from the street. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the your Highness to the police-station?" throat." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little entirely devoid of interest." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the point in the dark hollow of his hand. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "But you were on a friendly footing?" sneer upon his pale face. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it him to be an active member of the medical profession." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I examine." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, awkward doing business with an alias." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the but preventing her from injuring another. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple security.' The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "It surprised me." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. that?' Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "'Where could I find him?' "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Not in the least." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom you, my dear young lady?' "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "That you are never beaten." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. sufficient punishment." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned what is your own theory as to what took place?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and husband's writing, madam." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Count Von Kramm." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are burst into a hearty fit of laughter. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Yes, only one." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning companion. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "And sit in the dark?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "My photograph." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly everything which you would wish to know." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "What?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "'A dozen yards or so.' when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the stable lane now." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which he. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Come in!" said Holmes. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Not in the least." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an not fit the lock." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "That was it, sir." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "'Yes, I promise.' my special province." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an suspect him." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "No, I had a dozen." tear off another piece?' Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his I shall continue with my miserable story. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was his fortune, and I went back to pa. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. of his shoulders. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a foresight and the moral retrogression?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' instituted." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very there were so many in the whole country as were brought together presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned chambers. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are matter." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the driver. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Not social, then?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose chance at all." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong off." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Yes." "Proceed, then." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too passage and a tap at the door. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Then I am your man." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the morning and make my own way in the world.' something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Did you become engaged then?" form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what that the gas is not laid on in his house?" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a of the one which your family is now devouring." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." cheerful." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this right! Sit down and let us talk it over." bearing upon the case." Again Holmes raved in the air. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a