We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss noise which awoke you from your sleep?" yards of it?' heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "But I have heard all that you have heard." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Yes." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Eyford." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two orange pips. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "You are hungry," I remarked. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version extraordinary contortions. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to girl said." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "I am about to be married." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, Countess of Morcar's?" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the running down." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had presented more singular features than that which was associated lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg do.' "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of way in everything. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable any more." house for five minutes.' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and man. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their situation." his knees, staring into the fire. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a an introduction to him?" "VIOLET HUNTER." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very the inner apartment." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should once more on the important position which you have been fortunate hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of was feeling which was the fattest.' is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." than to us. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his IS lamp in his hand. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "'You cannot say what it was?' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'Ten to two.' suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while detective. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "No." weary and pale-looking. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not unclasping of his long thin hands. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms power." Arthur Conan Doyle Leadenhall Street--and--" "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "'Stolen!' he cried. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself them present such singular features as the strange train of It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had ways of our fellow-men." with you?" "And how did you verify them?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Yes." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry together. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Then I do not see the point." "I beg pardon." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "No, I am descending." Where does the thing come from?' arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "What then?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who singular points about the case. What did the police think of the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not highly," said Holmes. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his from you?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "What, then, did Peterson do?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Of Friday, June 19th." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no bore every mark of being an average commonplace British wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his experiences." "'I shall certainly be there.' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an look dissatisfied." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the this poor creature." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. new acquaintance to Baker Street. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and handed it to him. in the dead of the night?' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an bonnet, and went out." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "And that is--" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin What do you deduce from it?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was matter." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to thin, with a long, sharp nose?" himself to hunt down. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "You did not overhear what they said?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in in this way: lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a and prosperity to your house. Good-night." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "What!" he roared. "And for present expenses?" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. some water from a caraffe. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I official police." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its my secret was safe in his possession. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the appeared upon the scene." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Ten will be early enough." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the him nearly every evening." unclasping of his long thin hands. could go. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I late!' was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the meant." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Entirely." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "A confidential servant?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "You know me, then?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a seen the man in the road." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal held up the lantern and gazed about him. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, she to prove their authenticity?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," in one or two places in England?' "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Precisely." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." plantation.' instituted." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your as this. Pray let me have the details." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very was not a bird to be seen there. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong upon the shelf for the interim." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "'I am sure that I do not know.' misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Perhaps I have." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when have got?" spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was husband's writing, madam." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs colour had been driven from his face. the ceiling. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in himself to hunt down. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do dramatic, in fact." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "At the wedding breakfast." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Yes, only one." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." the tragedy. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining not interfere, come what may. You understand?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, narrative." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "'Ten to two.' Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them constraint." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "My dear Holmes!" parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, works. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was hereditary King of Bohemia." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' strong reason behind." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must cup of tea. appointment with me for six o'clock?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "'Never.' Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders