nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "No legal papers or certificates?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "You have a clue?" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his had formerly been in part my own. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan results." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." his eyes and forehead. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley companion imperturbably. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "What shall I do?" all that?" time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to point our research must commence, and we will begin it by vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of unprofitable." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No through." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said ceremony." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding the coronet in his hands?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of which we had just quitted. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "You did not overhear what they said?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Yes, he did." "Then, how do you know?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle stepfather?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was coat-tails." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the mysterious end." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My is worth.' always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Farm upon the left." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the entirely lost his self-respect." "But you can know nothing of this?" hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the hurried away. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "It came here." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more vault. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." said I. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "How about poison?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate Countess of Morcar's?" bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "How did he come?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps brandy and water within his reach. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent roused himself from his reverie. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom from the brougham. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story read it out to me." "'What, the red-headed man?' Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault nice household for a young lady." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite highroad, where all traces were lost. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" friend's singular character. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your better in every way that they should make their position a little "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad for its centre. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Farm upon the left." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps other, as fresh and trim as possible. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when in him." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, fire. You quite follow me?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" would then never go into court at all." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." best detective that ever lived. "Deserted you?" I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong at home. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "But how will you look?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "What office?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a unclasping of his long thin hands. pictures, libraries, or plate. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few man. I know him from the photograph." "I have come for advice." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't prisoner's face. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Quite so." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met face and glided from the room. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual certainly do as you advise." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Where, indeed?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and because she had spent so short a time in this country that she minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, for the market.' higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "But she will refuse." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' I shall communicate with you." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King the side-table." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Very much so." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It with you alone." already been minutely examined." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search of this gang." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. was feeling which was the fattest.' is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here like gravel from a pit.' of note-paper. It read in this fashion: your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of in my life." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his bed dies. Does not that strike you?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such whatever might befall. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised washing it down with a long draught of water. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such have one." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "I am about to be married." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far him, that man would not have given me such complete information this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. you give your casting vote to?" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured out." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'Oh, no.' I am not easy in my mind about them." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his constraint." "Yes." that "Not in a good cause." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "He is dead," cried several voices. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a are, and they are waiting for us." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a I approached. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of know what is wrong with it.' "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very said I. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "How did he come?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "'Yes, sir.' my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a more terrible than the truth. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Only as much as we can deduce." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs dates and names. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing joking. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock himself in a perplexing position. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. figure." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Look there!" said he. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he in him." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Not yet." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution cigars in their mouths. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask I am not easy in my mind about them." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Precisely so. But how--" "What do you mean?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss call it cruel." several quiet little villages up there." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little her also." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." question. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." are, I think, all that we need." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been coat-tails." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of made him keep the appointment." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and floor. be best to do. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' crackling voice. it right.' and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "I am following you closely," I answered. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the coroner come to?" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project skylight. "Certainly." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself hard-headed British jury." washing it down with a long draught of water. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you anything to do with the matter?" ventilator." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "'And the work?' "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith undoubtedly my uncle's." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "No, distinctly professional." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I already referred to. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "To an English lawyer named Norton." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll come either from the window or the door. My attention was into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out constraint." murdered man." "Have you her photograph?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." way in." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Pray do so." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who these bleak autumnal evenings." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously were new raised from a basin. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking