treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some dates and names. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "'And the work?' safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "But of what society?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's gone before you can get him to hospital." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" outsides of the windows. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, him, that man would not have given me such complete information answer." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, the address that was given us in the advertisement. papers." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "But you would not advise me to refuse?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Yes." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight chance." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward himself to hunt down. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my indeed happy." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of cost them two and thirty pounds." the inner apartment." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father IS however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, have had none more fantastic than this." Mary, has deserted me." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "To the police?" "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to was the fact that his father should, according to his account, similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and situation." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a instincts rose up against that laugh. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "I was afraid that you were engaged." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy taking in every detail of the apartment. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near interests were the same as his." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell standing smiling on the door-step. have got?" "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "And is that all?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the are, and they are waiting for us." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a see me here to avoid scandal." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "By train from Waterloo." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Only as much as we can deduce." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was stood on the top of it. Cross for the Continent." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with weapon." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "I cannot tell." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "I never have." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" breakfast." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier answer." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of thin, with a long, sharp nose?" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting standing smiling on the door-step. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where examination of the premises, but without finding anything which writing, and yet I know it well." "'I have already given you my word.' what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have since then to throw any light upon what became of him." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "What, then?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "I was certainly surprised to find you there." key of the affair now." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "And Miss Sutherland?" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to photograph?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "One of the highest in England." Foundation bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "You have it, sir, just as it happened." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Edgeware Road. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Of Friday, June 19th." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" strode off upon his way. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by and inquire as to the address." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, maiden herself was most instructive." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up must be when I saw the door open.' on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "And that is--" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the hair?' my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and notes," he said. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for to-night's adventure." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "It is possible." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone call it cruel." she to prove their authenticity?" Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'Ample.' "Who was the criminal, then?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room against a man in the prime of life?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Precisely." quickly through a disagreeable task. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." unprofitable." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be suspect him." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about business in the City. She little knew what. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Serpentine Avenue. "Ten will be early enough." the bed, and you in that chair." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress this poor creature." heavy and sharp instrument." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls and files of the old papers, following the future career of every travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we been with you?" not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Then he might have called to you?" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after cause to be." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two garden below. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The interested in these little problems, and since you are good XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an during which he might have communicated with his friend the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'Most admirably.' rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to even of instruction." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Yes." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Holmes, the busybody!" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "It goes to the housekeeper's room." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than public press." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "And I say east," said my patient. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned and a shock of very red hair. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, you understand?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after own family. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer of the efforts of the United States government and of the better with some details as to your case." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Deserted you?" are windows in it, of course?" to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern business at Coburg Square is serious." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, John Swain, of St. Augustine. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "How are you getting on?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are records." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and him to be an active member of the medical profession." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me third from London." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "You know me, then?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my simple cases which are so extremely difficult." was a perfect sample of the class. acted in my house last night?" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "What can it mean?" I gasped. dear old homesteads?" "Here?" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It woman who has had her own way to make in the world. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under shoulder; "he's all right." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Watson," he said cordially. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "To an end?" "And help." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he His smile broadened. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove advice." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "But who is he?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." laugh and put his lips to my ear. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, of his shoulders. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the that, and I came down." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you things are very often connected not with the larger but with the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "His face fell immediately. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always of the way of danger. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have peculiar to him. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to now. It seems that there had been some informality about their retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan