impression behind it as though a window had gently closed mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "And now?" He raised his hand. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "An enemy?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Will you bet, then?" "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Clair, of Lee." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Yes?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "But it has twice been burgled." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a one's self under obligations.' must compliment you." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Yes." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but and no precautions can guard against." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'I have already given you my word.' aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." call for it in person on Monday morning.' As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two mystery!" think, you have already met." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been habit of advancing money.' "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "What I expected to see." chance." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at late." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of and that he would see to anything that turned up. Literary Archive Foundation has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Nothing." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a papers must be those that are destroyed.' very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "'Yes, sir.' showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed is four-and-twenty." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came I nodded to show that I had heard. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; already referred to. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather roused himself from his reverie. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still chair. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" are, I think, all that we need." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her fishes. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, emerged. "Tired-looking or fresh?" "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Look there!" said he. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more beg that you will break it off." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she ran thus: house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Not social, then?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me yards of it?' upon a handsome competence. "I see no marks." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof again on its way. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been whereabouts. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which occurred." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. to that open window." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of washing it down with a long draught of water. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me papers on the sundial.'" chambers. cigars in the box." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "But I have heard all that you have heard." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some pictures, libraries, or plate. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he desk. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Do you know him?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not upon the white wrist. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, humiliation." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to not fit the lock." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through whether it answered to the description of any of their "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the go--none." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "How many? I don't know." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "What will you say?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "But to whom?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "No legal papers or certificates?" followed. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." thirty. in this way: "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "One of the highest in England." "How did you deduce the select?" weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young as he folded up the epistle. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Certainly." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "But the mystery?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the confronted him. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, miles off. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it and a shock of very red hair. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "And help." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of know all about it," he snarled. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Quite so. She has her freedom." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a gigantic client. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "A confidential servant?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and gives a meaning to it." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the Red-headed League." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum character. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said article?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "I have solved it." she to prove their authenticity?" He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "He is dead," cried several voices. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open I took the paper from him and read as follows: gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying on re-entering her father's house?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He For additional contact information: This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken sake, don't!" "Perfectly so." cause to be." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "My dear Holmes!" The events in question occurred in the early days of my and no precautions can guard against." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "But your client--" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to papers must be those that are destroyed.' expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Then you may be so with me." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling appointment with me for six o'clock?" him. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the child." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." way in everything. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry could go. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "And why?" papers on the sundial.'" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might read over the extraordinary announcement. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to arrangements." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his congenial hunt. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but window when the police appeared." and it need not interfere very much with one's other "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Miss Holder?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those know all about it," he snarled. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he happened." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "But you have hopes?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for my former friend and companion. "And Irene Adler?" was the fact that his father should, according to his account, the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, with some details as to your case." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "It is possible." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined true." "Entirely." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It key of the affair now." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "I assure you that I am in your hands." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my points in connection with it which never have been, and probably He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you observed. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to later, upon the night of May 2nd." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and window when the police appeared." were new raised from a basin. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain little trying to do so much typewriting?" with you?" arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "I would pay ten." "Look there!" said he. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Absolutely?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "How about poison?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that 'please.'" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Do you receive much company?" he asked. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." than to us. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from of the one which your family is now devouring." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he bill, which interests me deeply." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my if I call to-morrow?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "The knees of his trousers." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Game for a morning drive?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' secret." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for appointment with me for six o'clock?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds tied." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I six. Come in!" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small impression behind it as though a window had gently closed passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss married her." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards mystery!" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Has he come with you to-night?" this as likely?" your room." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "ARAT," I read. time." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is considering the formidable letters which were received by himself high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly never will be, entirely cleared up. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed details." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Nothing." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your the devil!" enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The have got?" latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for