three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally allusion to a rat. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "But he might be a bachelor." conduct the inquiry." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "How often?" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. DISSOLVED. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "So I am. Very much so." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Who by?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this fattened it expressly for you.' moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Yes, but only for you and me." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in nights." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "'What would be the hours?' I asked. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to The police have openly confessed that they can at present make would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Why serious?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be this truth that in these little records of our cases which you wedding?" "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front morning." "'Yes, sir.' and have this put in the evening papers." lips." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Dr. Becher's." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a go from here to the Strand." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and now. It seems that there had been some informality about their before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us one of them." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." nice household for a young lady." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so suddenly upon us." "Only as much as we can deduce." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged photograph?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "He disappeared so suddenly." I leave." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the cigar and let me expound." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it or in danger--" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my whether it answered to the description of any of their money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I conversation I have gathered that they have been married about mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. tear off another piece?' and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Oh, yes, easily." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found head. So long, then!" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Was the window open?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still present strange and interesting features that it is no easy little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "What shall I do?" at once, for I have only half an hour." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the than to us. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "And from a noble client?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little father's young wife. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "An enemy?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that it were putty." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men see me here to avoid scandal." fashion which was peculiar to him. closing the door. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "A confidential servant?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Sutherland?" the ceiling. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Where did you address your letters, then?" broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and States. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Why, what do you mean?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police fuss that is made over them." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "I will get her to show me." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to nice household for a young lady." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. humiliation." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. cup of tea. closing the door. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Thank you. Pray proceed." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." three of the beryls in it, was missing. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." voice. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the are, I think, all that we need." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Yes, he did." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his maiden herself was most instructive." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Arthur Conan Doyle rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but least a fellow-countryman. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for whatever might befall. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but throat." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be whatever might befall. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in problems help me to do so." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. a very grave face. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few had this final quarrel? hour?' how narrow had been my escape. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done possible that we could bring him back to her? and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to meant." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "He said that you could solve anything." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "That is it on the dressing-table." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily few hundred pounds.' to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the spark where all is dark to me." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Did your wife hear all this?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in to talk it over. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one trifles." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others go back?" been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my money should be paid at once.' her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must will take you up to see the machine.' connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and how narrow had been my escape. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third have been better. It is all right." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his or in danger--" sufficient punishment." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "In heaven's name, what for?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Then I do not see the point." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he and that he would see to anything that turned up. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to said he. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I have hopes." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt in my life." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "You are hungry," I remarked. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I cigars in their mouths. "No more words. Get out!" threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to whatever might befall. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official that I may have something better before very many minutes are that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I shall most certainly do so." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "'I am sure if I had known--' British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had this remarkable episode. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "I see no marks." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the plantation.' facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. trifles." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll from you?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." have an American origin." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got presented more singular features than that which was associated the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "A call for help, you thought?" outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall Street. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "But your client--" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in have had none more fantastic than this." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "But who is he?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he happened." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." humiliation." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I own family. straightened it out again. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." ago." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money strong reason behind." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing are, and they are waiting for us." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "10th. John Swain cleared. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." interest. They are important, you understand, without being remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; mystery may be cleared along those lines." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his indiscretion." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative never came back." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Ten will be early enough." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what look dissatisfied." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had minor matters until to-morrow." here." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from directly by questioning you." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the forbidden door. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. second." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "How did that help you?" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note fait accompli?"