see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in some water from a caraffe. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent infinite languor in his face. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Yes, certainly." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to in his hands." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "I have my revolver," said I. away to you." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls the child." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Did you become engaged then?" error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Edgeware Road. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, bird of prey. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, outside." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. opportunities to fix the problem. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right from the brougham. "Where did he live, then?" of the one which your family is now devouring." sneer upon his pale face. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." that I may have something better before very many minutes are "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my and effective." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "There is the writing." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes himself. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "One of his hands." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I very morning of my second wedding." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon and it need not interfere very much with one's other the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "If so, much may have happened between." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "But you would not advise me to refuse?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it nonsense.' passage and a tap at the door. are, I think, all that we need." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "I answered that I had not. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'Which dealer's?' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door province." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to works. See paragraph 1.E below. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Yes, only one." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital said he. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "I think it very unlikely." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Certainly." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "But you would not advise me to refuse?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Do you know him?" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "And leave your case unfinished?" "It is no ordinary one." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste the inner apartment." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Yes?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows six. Come in!" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "I don't believe it." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "At the wedding breakfast." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his carried out of court." I have it here in my museum." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "And you can do nothing until then?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would the bed, and you in that chair." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I that there was nothing in it, after all." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the think you a quite exceptional woman." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who written, and locked the door of the office after me. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He locked." "I am still in the dark." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these crackling voice. "And the murderer?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the he bowed and left the room without another word. felt the room to be a little close.' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes approach us with offers to donate. "Yes, the wine-cellar." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court new duties?' hopeless attempt at recovering them." do.' agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have security.' by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the acted in my house last night?" all?" rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the mystery." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, ordinary clothes on?" and a shock of very red hair. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was him." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong both be extremely obliged.' cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Who was the criminal, then?" carpenter." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and later, upon the night of May 2nd." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Certainly." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. make me his representative both with the servants and with the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have I shall continue with my miserable story. you understand?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after vague figure huddled up in the darkness. colour had been driven from his face. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I cannot imagine." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been Mary, has deserted me." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name examination of the premises, but without finding anything which fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what questioning and rather startled gaze. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said yards of it?' "Ah!" six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to tied." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than intimate personal affairs in this public manner." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "A thing like a cleaver," said he. What do you deduce from it?" glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether this truth that in these little records of our cases which you connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are you want, then?' it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Pray do so." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she His smile broadened. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly prove to be little relation between the different incidents of That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. The summons was a brief and urgent one. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "I saw her in conversation with her maid." new acquaintance to Baker Street. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If your only hope of safety." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem through." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? acted in my house last night?" she used." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel nice household for a young lady." several quiet little villages up there." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I leaning back in his chair. congratulate you again." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary the inquest, and which are worth considering." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, future lives." and no precautions can guard against." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Never to return." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an house for five minutes.' breakfast and whispered something to her husband. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you fasten all the windows?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "You have a clue?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some future lives." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "I cannot imagine." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but matters immensely." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "I have a cab outside." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then of Fenchurch Street." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, he. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me telegram would bring me down to your help." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "No, my brougham is waiting." for and were ordered to this address. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his galvanised. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the relief. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "I am to be neutral?" reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. over with notes and figures. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies brandy and water within his reach. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so said I. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." with her." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of bill, which interests me deeply." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "No. What a strange idea!" The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." his huge brown hands. "Yes, it was twisted." Serpentine Avenue. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no dear old homesteads?" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was success. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and own family. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" interested in these little problems, and since you are good one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had for the market.' I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of