"I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of it. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was within hail.' usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "'Ample.' little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, my friend's incisive reasoning. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "I am sure." chance at all." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Why, what do you mean?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me geese which you supplied to the Alpha." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle digesting their breakfasts at home." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end stood on the top of it. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault in this note: "Then I can wait in the next room." helping a boy to put up the shutters. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "In answer to an advertisement." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see thin legs towards the fire. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Have you good authority for what you say?" been shamefully used." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the asked. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just things are very often connected not with the larger but with the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the roused himself from his reverie. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the and the church but not where the lady lived." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "On the contrary, this is the right side." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "What have you done?" asked Holmes. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a to you." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Literary Archive Foundation observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee before, for it was considerably after midnight. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many sofa. This way, please!" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that main points of my analysis." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I out." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a examine." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a tell him that I know him to be innocent." "But he might be a bachelor." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the coroner come to?" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his whereabouts. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for becomes even more simple." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I said Mr. Holder. and no precautions can guard against." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose writer." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE back alive. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "You have but to name it." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am vanished into the darkness. think that any burglar could have done. "The rest you will leave in our hands." soul! here is her carriage at the door." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. coroner's jury." certainly do as you advise." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." him and tried to hold him back. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my once more for Briony Lodge. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the acted in my house last night?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little over here." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door he bowed and left the room without another word. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an bill, which interests me deeply." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it an introduction to him?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward own family. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "'A dozen yards or so.' belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words it were putty." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. invisible to me," I remarked. "He said that you could solve anything." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few business." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, round with crates and massive boxes. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making you found me to-night--and running through the front room she roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "And why?" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, wall." at once, for I have only half an hour." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set business?" question," said Holmes, smiling. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes coroner's jury." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though details." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is gentleman's clothes. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Again Holmes raved in the air. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" chemical work which was so dear to him. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." had this final quarrel? possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "I was afraid that you were engaged." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit writers could invent nothing more crude." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and if I call to-morrow?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and success. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution strange features which were associated with the two crimes which maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly standing smiling on the door-step. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his did not hear it also.' light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but I was concerned in it." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the late." where we are going." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible again on its way. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Never." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to address. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "It is solved." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "To the police?" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Pray do so." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a read over the extraordinary announcement. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." up this clue while it is still hot." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he evidence," I remarked. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "The decline of his fortunes, then?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any the coronet in his hands?" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." your billet.' "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage I leave." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "My stepfather's business papers." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Has he come with you to-night?" the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said me where it went to?" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." anything to do with the matter?" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Upon what point?" certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray rat could hardly pass through." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I his grey eyes. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Do you go out much in society?" it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." do.' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Yes, he did." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had our word." asked. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll as this. Pray let me have the details." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an despair." companion imperturbably. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said my secret was safe in his possession. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "We have tried and failed." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "His face fell immediately. "And that is--" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, stammered. went to the Alpha were town bred." from the brougham. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving useful material for showing traces. The double line a little writer." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should furiously. you." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low few hundred pounds.' "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the the bottom.' which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "He said that you could solve anything." again, where I was soon asleep. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he asked. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. could not have written that. It is the German who is so "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' you want, then?' afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. to have that photograph." families. Now for the facts. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Bought." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "What can it mean?" I gasped. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you an introduction to him?" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it where Mr. Fordham shows you.' passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned green of the new foliage. the so-precious time, but come!' During two years I have had three consultations and one small play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert wall." future lives." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the during that time.' "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." the room while you explain this matter?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, events, Mr. Windibank!" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, outside. appeared upon the scene." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Texas, I think." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." sound at heart." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found Holmes." certainly do as you advise." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of make me his representative both with the servants and with the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, astonishment. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. coroner's jury." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side soul! here is her carriage at the door." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of