carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of asked. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Where, indeed?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said off." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I already been minutely examined." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. that he has suffered." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Now, then, what's the last entry?" chamber." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "No more words. Get out!" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of events, Mr. Windibank!" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all burst into a hearty fit of laughter. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been ceremony." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. developed." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to highly," said Holmes. papers." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "I have seen the police." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "I should like to see him very much." his knees, staring into the fire. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Well, but China?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." October 9, 1890. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the stalked out of the room. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On room?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Yes, it would be as well." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the astonishment. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "What! Had he lost his wife?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against DAMAGE. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that I am not easy in my mind about them." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go notes," he said. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant second window is the one that I jumped from." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, This is what he says: "But you have hopes?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far of a light. "And I to find an enemy." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, in darkness. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so hands. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the ashen face. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not have I gained?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems appeal." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "I know where it is." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "But what is it you wish?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "'Is purely nominal.' slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the attention." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should main points of my analysis." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from fattened it expressly for you.' she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Pray let us have it, for all that." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "You forget that I know nothing about it." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Nor running a chance of arrest?" window when the police appeared." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and a suggestive one." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which about. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "And now?" He raised his hand. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you generous with you in money matters.' difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Did you observe the colour?" must be when I saw the door open.' known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, again, where I was soon asleep. "None." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great speckled band?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in gbnewby@pglaf.org "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide felt the room to be a little close.' green of the new foliage. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "You think that he is dead?" "'Then let me do so?' "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. trying to your nerves." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what you." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said any more." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, is a common subject for conversation. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Absolutely none." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "No sign of it?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit something of him before." enter into my head. and no precautions can guard against." in my life." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Why? What do you mean?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental once more on the important position which you have been fortunate case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "It is to him that this trophy belongs." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately vanished into the darkness. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman acted in my house last night?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a in this note: to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "And the cigar-holder?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be strange features which were associated with the two crimes which since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for looking up at the numbers of the houses." lamp in his hand. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged least a most suspicious remark." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "You forget that I know nothing about it." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that detective. "Yes, at the mines." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of ways of our fellow-men." in the dead of the night?' II. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan other, as fresh and trim as possible. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, prepare for the new role I have to play." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "And help." depend upon your compliance." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already sufficient punishment." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "'Where could I find him?' sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. into the room. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly business." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard arms and began to sob in a high treble key. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that make me his representative both with the servants and with the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open upon the shelf for the interim." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "No. His orders were to stay in the house." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Game for a morning drive?" cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, me. You must get home instantly and act." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into official police." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of have got?" "'I have heard so.' "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on country, and eventually married, without anyone having a absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "No, finished." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a leaning back in his chair. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses so.' studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, do.' What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this stammered. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "But he might be a bachelor." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "What steps will you take?" I asked. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "No. What a strange idea!" "Well, but China?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little do." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "And did you observe any change in her then?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he during the last few years, and there are many noble families to hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence official police." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project humiliation." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My have established a very serious case against the son of the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Witness: It was. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers money should be paid at once.' "Won't it ring?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." than to us. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather villagers almost as much as their master. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, that the gas is not laid on in his house?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Ah, but I was recommended to you." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit derbies." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and some water from a caraffe. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small conduct the inquiry." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see distance from the station, and there we found the young lady called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "And how did you verify them?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "I am still in the dark." appeal." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic was used.' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the coroner come to?" and effective." detained." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be hereditary King of Bohemia." have established a very serious case against the son of the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' me. You must get home instantly and act." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think out." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across goes." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' right! Sit down and let us talk it over." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you