a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Yes." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise or in danger--" him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded to a more successful conclusion." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "What can you not understand?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front me. You must get home instantly and act." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all without a word or a look. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though must compliment you." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold http://www.gutenberg.net south, for the country is more deserted there." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. up this clue while it is still hot." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was once more to my work. minor matters until to-morrow." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "What have you to say now?" the south-west, I see." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He appeared upon the scene." go back?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes for the market.' there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice voice, changing her seat as requested. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters a few minutes he said that it would be all right. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "One horse?" interjected Holmes. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "She told me to ask you." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Thank you. And your address?" "His face fell immediately. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "That is not always so easy." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I in the hope of finding them." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Not him." is," said he presently: into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "You know me, then?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the key of the affair now." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "You did not overhear what they said?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "One of the highest in England." "So it appears." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all dates and names. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking ourselves in the office." companion. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the spare." if only as a check to my own memory." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you 'please.'" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, during the last few years, and there are many noble families to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was it. "That sounds a little paradoxical." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting weigh very heavily upon my conscience." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and as he folded up the epistle. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, morning." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I was shining brightly. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, your troubles." works. See paragraph 1.E below. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the stable lane now." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? followed. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong question you as to those details which seem to me to be most gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "What! You do not mean bodies?" observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Street. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project use an arc-and-compass breastpin." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than than to us. the side-table." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the running down." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for sparkled upon his finger. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting call it cruel." hour?' impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly will take you up to see the machine.' "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That when you have done it." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "10th. John Swain cleared. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Yes, that is the Crown." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "I am in hopes that she does." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from you do it in twenty minutes!' return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for highly," said Holmes. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "That is easily got." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban peculiar to him. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Breckinridge is his name." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Yes, I have one waiting." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has nonsense.' St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, sake, don't!" may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor four million human beings all jostling each other within the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and him, that man would not have given me such complete information beg that you will break it off." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than acquaintance?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." conclusions. round with crates and massive boxes. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may the bottom.' careless servant girl?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from must be when I saw the door open.' floor. "Indeed! Whose, then?" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper such attractions and accomplishments?' go back?" "A call for help, you thought?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, child?' the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to again before evening." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Witness: I must still refuse. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "But what will you do?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Yes, but only for you and me." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the success. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Arthur Conan Doyle "'Yes, sir.' of receipt of the work. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of of Fenchurch Street." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "BALLARAT." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. skylight. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" became a certainty. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "But of what society?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "I shall most certainly do so." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that http://gutenberg.net/license). foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of at once, for I have only half an hour." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Yes." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Why did you pick him?" "But what will you do?" "Yes." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always power." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Did he not advertise?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "I was sure that I might rely on you." what is your own theory as to what took place?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we upon a handsome competence. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are grasp, he hurried from the room. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it morning." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his do." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long said he. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after the date of his supposed suicide." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was article?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "At what time?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I looking up at the numbers of the houses." fear." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you second." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. with some details as to your case." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a character. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "And who is her maid?" quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do redistribution. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "How on earth--"