be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden that threaten you." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a room?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point to tell." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. direction." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. may never be exposed to such a temptation." the date of his supposed suicide." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just said he. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Ah!" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "I will get her to show me." "What do you mean?" 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But know what is wrong with it.' "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and train from Paddington which would bring you there at about Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have a monotonous occupation." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of them present such singular features as the strange train of who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his unprecedented a position." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading during that time.' "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel and capable of preserving a secret.' "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. works. See paragraph 1.E below. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Come in!" said he. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Then, how do you know?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently events than those which have happened in my own family." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Well?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even and the whole place is in a blaze." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were to-morrow." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who lost his Christmas dinner." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had villagers almost as much as their master. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I was sure that I might rely on you." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "At what time?" of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of are, I think, all that we need." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" 'please.'" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "The King of Scandinavia." "You horrify me!" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your arrested. You then--" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "You know me, then?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you prison!" fear." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and into the room. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "One of his hands." the coronet in his hands?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than time." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has for securing the situation." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that meant." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and him." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or I was concerned in it." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Yes." "But how?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was sofa. This way, please!" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed October 9, 1890. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Eyford at 11:15.' Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We attention." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in letters?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" key of the affair now." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Then the page we have seen--" had picked up in the wood. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my anything to do with the matter?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is have not had my rubber." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the matter." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was been shamefully used." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, here." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "The vanishing of the lady." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention four million human beings all jostling each other within the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The searched, without anything being found which could incriminate clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Not in the least." do.' willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut least a most suspicious remark." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "That you are never beaten." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big I nodded again. "Deserted you?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Yes." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It crowd. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Yes, I have one waiting." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered McCarthy's innocence. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger at my remark. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to depend upon my doing so.' of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came status with the IRS. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "I was mad--insane." "I was afraid that you were engaged." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "But he might be a bachelor." papers." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Why, what do you mean?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and said he at last. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was gigantic client. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "And how?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle ashen face. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Thank you. And your address?" transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Then, how do you know?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my garden below. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I have solved it." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "No, my brougham is waiting." most interesting one." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof drove away. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and lumber-room." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do never came back." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "I cannot imagine." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Miss Holder?" woman." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. voice, changing her seat as requested. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in go--none." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "I cannot say that I have." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "'I shall certainly be there.' look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. and put his glass in his pocket. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found This is what he says: the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Sholtos." best detective that ever lived. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Clair, of Lee." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than reach." Holmes' face clouded over. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, them?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being conduct the inquiry." "Deserted you?" Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "You have the photograph?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose him and tried to hold him back. less than 26s. 4d. late." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution IS yet." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when salesman. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly woven round him. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Her father is very rich?" row." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "What?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Perhaps I have." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Pray be precise as to details," said he. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled father's young wife. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, was not a bird to be seen there. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "What do you make of that, Watson?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded fish-monger and a tide-waiter." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort said Mr. Holder. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. salesman. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I am all attention, madam." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the such person." murdered man." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "I cannot tell." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future without a word or a look. fact, we may call it conclusive." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem I shall communicate with you." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Stolen, then." and it need not interfere very much with one's other other means.' father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "You'll never persuade me to believe that." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I nonsense.' persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his are, and they are waiting for us." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been where she found matters as described by the last witness. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "None." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I