"What office?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to row." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a to change my dress. "It is no ordinary one." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get think, you have already met." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Where to?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me returned to France?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do some city in a dream. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client God! What an exposure! What can I do?" of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than annoyance, but no jest. "What are they?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he the stones. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a house for five minutes.' Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face official police." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "So it appears." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of tell him that I know him to be innocent." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn conversation I have gathered that they have been married about of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly to a more successful conclusion." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Your presence might be invaluable." upon the sideboard." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the inner apartment." grasp, he hurried from the room. "To an English lawyer named Norton." "But it has twice been burgled." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES him to go away.' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any instincts rose up against that laugh. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "That sounds a little paradoxical." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "The doctor?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was swore that no one else had been in the front room during the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came is acting for the best. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have his knees, staring into the fire. opened the door, and slipped through. forbidden door. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the hardly wander." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of III. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from imbecility!" he cried. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, felt?" McCarthy's innocence. the coronet in his hand?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I cannot tell." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, never came back." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. better grown goose." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Why did you pick him?" "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to weigh very heavily upon my conscience." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "'Certainly not. But why?' "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the one's self under obligations.' "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should what I may call a really hard day's work." papers must be those that are destroyed.' the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "He might." back to my heart. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Did you observe the colour?" "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "What then?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a My friend smiled. Holmes' thin, eager face. yourselves in at night?" means taking possession of that which another person has a prior pity, because in other respects you would really have done very not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Was she in good spirits?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," and prosperity to your house. Good-night." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be the tragedy. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out forebodings. instituted." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "It is solved." mystery may be cleared along those lines." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Ah!" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "And I to find an enemy." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came were unconscious?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "How on earth--" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building chance." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "And what then?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the and glanced through. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and McCarthy." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "Why, it's a dummy," said he. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the less than 26s. 4d. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have row." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "My last client of the sort was a king." burst out into a roar of laughter. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more used to be." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down with the outside air!" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had before the coroner and the police-court." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" narrative." chair. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking corner of the building. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and past. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 cup of tea. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past man. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with business in the City. She little knew what. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, populous neighbourhood." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of indeed happy." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly orange pips. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached to-morrow." "Yes." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Can I be of assistance?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, to that open window." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can country, and eventually married, without anyone having a however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. chambers. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "On your arm?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. way in everything. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the pierced for earrings?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of populous neighbourhood." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since his wife has ceased to love him." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the bed, and you in that chair." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying plantation.' "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. knowledge of the world." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep that you saw all that I did." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill papers." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "My dear Holmes!" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the coronet in his hand?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any would then never go into court at all." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong what these perils are?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the Friday. Was it to be in church?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "In the cells." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "I would pay ten." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek strong reason behind." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism nice household for a young lady." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush galvanised. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Who by?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle it." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "That's no good." "'Why that?' I asks. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual 11:15.' mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as sparkled upon his finger. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Yes, sir." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, taking in every detail of the apartment. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us relation between them, and what the object of his repeated We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." exactly what you advise." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which evidence," I remarked. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Stoke Moran." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Witness: Nothing definite. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in considering the formidable letters which were received by himself half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "It is no ordinary one." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "But she will refuse." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Very. But will he see it?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and child?' young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "What is it, then--a fire?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon one of them." noble correspondent could be. "To an end?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, points to suicide?" Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman