"I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'I have already given you my word.' Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of unkempt, staring out at me. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Where, then?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight thin legs towards the fire. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "You saw the ventilator, too?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a leave you to your papers for a little." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the father's place of business?" free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An ill-usage at the hands of fortune. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was name is different." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country south, for the country is more deserted there." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of said he at last. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than closely." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Has he come with you to-night?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever hurried by. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the breakfast." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Why did you pick him?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "In what way?" asked Holmes. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for guilty one." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the room. prisoner's face. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the could not have written that. It is the German who is so "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "There are none." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is together. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Game for a morning drive?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that wedding?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a case-book, which he consulted. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had fait accompli?" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father to tell." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more are windows in it, of course?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Then he might have called to you?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the you give your casting vote to?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" she used." gentleman's clothes. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few perplexity from it to my illustrious client. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Where to?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he standing smiling on the door-step. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one to have been novel and of interest." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found less than 26s. 4d. the warnings." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of outside. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Not social, then?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "How about poison?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' to-morrow." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a nothing with him." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. all-comprehensive glances. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he seven miles from Eyford Station.' morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical main points of my analysis." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford and laid it on the table. "Ah!" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were problems help me to do so." true." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions the salesman. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is anything to do with the matter?" the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the allusion to a rat. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she never came back." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is that I am arrested." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend The events in question occurred in the early days of my drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the to arrive at through this?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing but preventing her from injuring another. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "'Where to?' order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'You cannot say what it was?' little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "It is very kind of you." hurried by. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "It missed him, then?" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, at my own good fortune. I shall continue with my miserable story. is now desirous of getting those letters back." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the my secret was safe in his possession. upon the shelf for the interim." never will be, entirely cleared up. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "He said that you could solve anything." that he has suffered." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he the running down." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the the roots. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "I do." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Murdered?" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely call for protection in the marriage market, for the present professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "This concluded the examination of the witness." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in was it brought him the coronet? Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "But who is he?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us see a sister of mine apply for." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend writing, and yet I know it well." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall nonsense.' friend's singular character. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the salesman. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good signal between you and your father? We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to know that the truth is known." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask bedroom door." mysterious business." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until place no limit on the sum I may draw." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would through." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "The rest you will leave in our hands." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "'Very good.' "Yes, that is the Crown." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "And who is her maid?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "And how did he make his money?" resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have families. Now for the facts. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we My friend smiled. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "A client, then?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "It missed him, then?" better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Yes, certainly." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. of the vacancies.' The police have openly confessed that they can at present make compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a who was a member of your goose club." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in might have a private word with us. three of the beryls in it, was missing. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "You have a clue?" emerged. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "My stepfather's business papers." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare invisible to me," I remarked. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had imbecility!" he cried. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "You saw the ventilator, too?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a I took the paper from him and read as follows: "And how?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "No." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my open." one else, I think." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Quite so." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards developed." so.' "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will humiliation." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I and no precautions can guard against." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in to have been novel and of interest." an introduction to him?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Was the window open?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of even of instruction." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven it right.' father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the directors, with the result that you have seen." such attractions and accomplishments?' individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the asked. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three up this clue while it is still hot." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I as noiselessly as she had come. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. excitement. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I call it cruel." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" depend upon my doing so.' the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." was shining brightly. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "On your arm?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "That is easily got." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "The King of Scandinavia." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "'Where to?' what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock in his hands." "Who was the criminal, then?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past the Red-headed League."