the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "A greater distance to travel." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to hurried away. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. have had none more fantastic than this." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little my former friend and companion. smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Pray tell us what has happened to you." copied or distributed: about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "We must have a cab." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "But who is he?" "That is possible." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any The King stared at him in amazement. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he despair." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a was once confined in the cab my mission was practically his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he shadow pass over his face as I spoke. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "That's no good." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the straighten it?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Proceed, then." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked would then never go into court at all." evidence," I remarked. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "To an English lawyer named Norton." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty few hundred pounds.' "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own society." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "So I am. Very much so." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Here?" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very cheerful." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We security.' some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Holmes. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "And I to find an enemy." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in relation between them, and what the object of his repeated corner of the building. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the My friend smiled. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "That was it, sir." "How did you trace it, then?" baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "And what then?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and other means.' against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came keep the flames under. British peeress.'" had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began fire. You quite follow me?" "Bought." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Miss Holder?" tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and look dissatisfied." questioning and rather startled gaze. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & three of the beryls in it, was missing. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but hard-headed British jury." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "To ruin me." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in made his money." "Could he throw no light?" another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "What will you do, then?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been chambers. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." me. You must get home instantly and act." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open now. It seems that there had been some informality about their learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so together. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of breakfast." an introduction to him?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, trying to your nerves." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a enough to aid us in our search." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "That's no good." "Was your sister dressed?" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new away to you." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill outsides of the windows. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "It certainly sounds feasible." least a fellow-countryman. written, and locked the door of the office after me. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and character. nonsense.' forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so page at http://pglaf.org waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "I have solved it." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but be sorry for having acted so harshly." Sholtos." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were bonnet, and went out." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to writing, and yet I know it well." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be shall not find me ungrateful." Sholtos." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this easy-going way." "Not particularly." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Pray let us have it, for all that." do you make of it all?" its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and following enigmatical notices: customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." security.' Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he to a more successful conclusion." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out will be renamed. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and that the gas is not laid on in his house?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "But his left-handedness." bled considerably." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': when you have done it." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "You have carte blanche." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a said I. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "None." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the matter?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I laugh and put his lips to my ear. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before more solid." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "'Yes, sir.' "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I the running down." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, heavy and sharp instrument." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was power." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be at home. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed conclusions. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." for the market.' the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey likely to be some crony of the landlady's." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to few hundred pounds.' is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "I was certainly surprised to find you there." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Chief Executive and Director forecastle of an emigrant ship. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Always." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you companion quietly. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "She will not sell." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. hardly wander." "And I to find an enemy." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" his grey eyes. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came very morning of my second wedding." four million human beings all jostling each other within the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle You can understand that this register and diary may implicate and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to of your young ladies.' that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "He might." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." leave you to your papers for a little." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had very morning of my second wedding." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I the Friday. Was it to be in church?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of room had already been engaged for us. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. one's self under obligations.' "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Has he come with you to-night?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his past. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was vault. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel I am not easy in my mind about them." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman deduce something from that?" full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "You know me, then?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "I would give my fortune to have them back." man. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a village inn over there?" when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us formed some opinion?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Yes. He waved his hands." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the general public were present, then?" locked. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with gone. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall front of me. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "But you have hopes?" any more." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would my former friend and companion. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his occupations.' head. So long, then!" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in door?" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he this unhappy family?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. gone before you can get him to hospital." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there was the fact that his father should, according to his account, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Clair, of Lee." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Mrs. Toller serenely. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. During two years I have had three consultations and one small