the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "Come in!" said Holmes. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism you." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Yesterday." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one will not take me long to tell. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "'Yes, sir.' heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of charge against him will break down." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "What have you to say now?" hopeless attempt at recovering them." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read since then to throw any light upon what became of him." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "The doctor?" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous lids now and glanced across at his visitor. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "The doctor?" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of relief. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, lips." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very goes." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope into the room. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "It looks newer than the other things?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "What shall I do?" It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "How about poison?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "And now?" I asked. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "To ruin me." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my criminal. We have already had experience of such." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Because he was handy and would come cheap." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. bill, which interests me deeply." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied introspective fashion. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into least a most suspicious remark." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the dear old homesteads?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," some mystery and the punishment of some crime." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' any more." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "And I say east," said my patient. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "They are typewritten," I remarked. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present business?" indeed happy." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are meanly of me." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they which was all perfectly true. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "None." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of happened." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "I know where it is." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower when you have done it." "Yes, from Horsham." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "But your client--" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. examine." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he imbecility!" he cried. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has made his money." tapping his fingers upon the table. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Pray continue your narrative." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "I cannot tell." disappearance of these gems?" at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers she might be summoned. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." delirious. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. IS the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies call the police, let the police find what they can.' occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Certainly." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view is so. I know all about McCarthy." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to good-night and bustled off upon her way. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "But how?" the roots. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan she to prove their authenticity?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the this poor creature." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his so.' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "It is no ordinary one." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate perplexity from it to my illustrious client. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "I am to be neutral?" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns kindly on the shoulder. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Dirty?" had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, happened." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a sooner or later she must fall a victim. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "And that is--" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and have I gained?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. beg that you will break it off." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has amused." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Whose house is it?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling place of silver." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Then he might have called to you?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial a monotonous occupation." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself forebodings. enough to aid us in our search." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Project Gutenberg-tm works. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my both be extremely obliged.' to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman get the tickets." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "You have a clue?" business?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Was the window open?" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The British peeress.'" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce paper in the air. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a wedding?" and all of them with the keenest interest. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "'Yes, I promise.' It may be so in this case, also." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held was a lad." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the against a man in the prime of life?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the strong reason behind." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the running down." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'Quite sure, dad.' not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent less than 26s. 4d. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I have my revolver," said I. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "There is the writing." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the invisible to me," I remarked. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily all-comprehensive glances. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he prepare for the new role I have to play." "Yes, it was twisted." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work together. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who delighted to hear it," he said. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall brain must have something in it." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Pray let us have it, for all that." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. heavy and sharp instrument." go back?" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a way in everything. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES a suggestive one." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the business at Coburg Square is serious." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of you want, then?' "Oh, fresh and glossy." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "I have a cab outside." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "No." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I waste of energy." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has useful material for showing traces. The double line a little broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Mary, has deserted me." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed prison!" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this ill-usage at the hands of fortune. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Yes." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and goes." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked better grown goose." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this of fine shops and stately business premises that they really is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would in the dead of the night?' this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "The doctor?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out matter." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Pray let us have it, for all that." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug I am not easy in my mind about them." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and throat." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should