inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you answer." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, States. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of know all about it," he snarled. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, who was a member of your goose club." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Yes." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the best of training." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "A call for help, you thought?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. Where does the thing come from?' situation." enough to aid us in our search." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the even so self-evident a thing as that." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes From what you have told me I think that it is possible that dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Stoke Moran." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "But we can't all be." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden followed. that you saw all that I did." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Holmes, the busybody!" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in nonsense.' the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he ago." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Certainly." "And how did you verify them?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've in my life." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of your troubles." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. all?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, this unhappy family?" the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' obstinate." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "It is very clear." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Your sister is dead, then?" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but to where he stood hid behind the curtain. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' think, you have already met." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said read over the extraordinary announcement. occupations.' "What can you not understand?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your hour." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, of receipt of the work. strode off upon his way. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were it means?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of I held the little printed slip to the light. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this or other trace. But how on earth--" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of cheerful." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Yes, sir." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his national property. I was determined that the law should have its refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Why serious?" "What then?" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "To an English lawyer named Norton." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with wall." "I would pay ten." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning you do it in twenty minutes!' "I would give my fortune to have them back." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "But she will refuse." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man happened." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of for the market.' "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "And when will you call?" paper in the air. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "It goes to the housekeeper's room." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Lestrade of Scotland Yard." without a word or a look. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of strength." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no name is different." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter becomes even more simple." hurried by. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Who by?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "But you have hopes?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event not within a twentieth part of the market price." "I cannot imagine." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "You did not overhear what they said?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was happened." where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector in a very precise fashion." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "My dear Holmes!" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes I am not easy in my mind about them." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "It's nothing of the kind." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from highroad, where all traces were lost. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the brain must have something in it." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the rose-bushes. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed the coroner come to?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "Precisely so. But how--" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, tightly behind him. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon was used.' and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "My own seal." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "'There is a drive, then?' "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a tied." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on families. Now for the facts. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "Ah!" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of never came back." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Certainly." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his to me. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced least a most suspicious remark." and glanced through. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each some city in a dream. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there in a very precise fashion." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much this poor creature." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to and shall probably return to London by the evening train." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he for and were ordered to this address. guilty one." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "'And the work?' vanished into the darkness. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Then I shall certainly come." nonsense.' very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a plantation.' serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "It is half-past ten now." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who Street. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There distance from the station, and there we found the young lady her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached knowledge of the world." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left gone. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in certainly do as you advise." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came 'I should be able to look after that for you.' details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might and put his glass in his pocket. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the strong reason behind." again." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then means taking possession of that which another person has a prior records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Yes." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to was already answered. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other entirely lost his self-respect." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "9th. McCauley cleared. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you official police." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "And I." even of instruction." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Not particularly." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Chief Executive and Director "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "What will you do, then?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he States. "Nothing." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your putting in the horse. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES least a most suspicious remark." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are something of him before." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions you?" chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in wife's character?" I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Then I can wait in the next room." 'please.'" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the your bag." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "'And the work?' explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. cup of tea. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Dr. Becher's." "On the contrary, this is the right side." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "I think that it is very probable." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is DAMAGE. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock case-book, which he consulted. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "Then I do not see the point." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at than was visible to me." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, out." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, matters immensely." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "And from a noble client?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple http://gutenberg.net/license). "And the cigar-holder?" arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the where we are going." "No, I am descending." quick march!" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a