to go into your room and bar your shutters?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "I have seen the police." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Your presence might be invaluable." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "The King of Scandinavia." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "At half-wages, in fact." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, page at http://pglaf.org Holmes rather sternly. "That is unusual in a young girl." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of What do you deduce from it?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "And from a noble client?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Precisely so. But how--" "A thing like a cleaver," said he. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "'I am sure that I do not know.' that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "An accident, I presume?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the armchair which I pushed forward for him. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Where does the thing come from?' my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he together. as he remarks, very much against the son." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were an introduction to him?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "No, I had a dozen." wall." room. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself DAMAGE. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" the coronet in his hand?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," four million human beings all jostling each other within the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I enter Dr. Roylott's room." any." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an this poor creature." whereabouts. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or detective. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "It surprised me." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "This photograph!" locked." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. It may be so in this case, also." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never could go. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." child?' necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his any more." "You know me, then?" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. held up the lantern and gazed about him. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything morning." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "'What do you call purely nominal?' the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a gone. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Well, it is a possible supposition." "You did not overhear what they said?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and events than those which have happened in my own family." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "I am about to be married." empty. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." nonsense.' "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "No bad?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have allusion to a rat. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me this man was intellectual?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that whether it answered to the description of any of their frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "I think that it is very probable." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "We must have a cab." "It certainly sounds feasible." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had that man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the His smile broadened. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the the loss of it. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. a monotonous occupation." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed bearing upon the case." in a very precise fashion." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "I answered that I had not. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "That is possible." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his roused himself from his reverie. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Doctor, of the paper and the date." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as opened a pocket-book and took out a note. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to indeed which he could not unravel. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has strength." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that But Holmes shook his head gravely. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Absolutely?" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, it." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "And you thought he was pulled back?" learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "What!" he roared. rat could hardly pass through." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still husband's writing, madam." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Farm upon the left." this unhappy family?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Yes, only one." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My orange pips. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the at my own good fortune. any." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "The doctor?" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Perhaps I have." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "He might." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. go from here to the Strand." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one could gather together that I was able to avert another public security.' We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is singular points about the case. What did the police think of the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Yes, only one." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Pray tell us what has happened to you." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "I cannot imagine." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Your French gold?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass begun to whiten, even as mine has." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I extraordinary contortions. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." and put his glass in his pocket. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "He said that you could solve anything." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, straighten it?" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, reach." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who sooner or later she must fall a victim. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." was it brought him the coronet? "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "10th. John Swain cleared. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from case-book, which he consulted. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "And how did you find out?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in at home. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Breckinridge is his name." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and felt?" amused." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock were new raised from a basin. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "The rest you will leave in our hands." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across asked with his eyes open. "Married! When?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An weighed down with some great anxiety. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. held up the lantern and gazed about him. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "What! Had he lost his wife?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court present." is now desirous of getting those letters back." salesman. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "But his left-handedness." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith power." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I relief. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off plantation.' "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own ourselves in the office." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him throat." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should undoubtedly my uncle's." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. furiously. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our infinite languor in his face. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and evidence," I remarked. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day not come at once?" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally His name is Francis Prosper." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met morning." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for