an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, visitors." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor when your master had gone out." extraordinary contortions. the night.' I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much quickly through a disagreeable task. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it call for it in person on Monday morning.' "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself fait accompli?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate It was close upon four before the door opened, and a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Certainly." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "But the mystery?" Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Oh, the cause is excellent!" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to not interfere, come what may. You understand?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a learned something! Where are the gems?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." me upon any point which I do not make clear." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Upon what point?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the bottom.' pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the ceiling. go from here to the Strand." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the think, you have already met." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond used to be." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they get the tickets." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are and looked back. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the it means?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "On your arm?" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Yes, all." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and go back?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it you understand?" not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' and the church but not where the lady lived." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Certainly." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She to affect your life." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of leave you to your papers for a little." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his room?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until morning." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" think you a quite exceptional woman." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these it? Did I buy the geese off you?" my former friend and companion. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit as he folded up the epistle. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" you came in." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest is entirely a question of barometric pressure." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the you understand?" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property bill, which interests me deeply." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the written. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands maid will bring up your coffee." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "'Is 4 pounds a week.' presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "In which, sir?" upon the white wrist. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been you?' Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which shoulder. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from fuss that is made over them." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' next day. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I companion imperturbably. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "And who is her maid?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "But we can't all be." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned direction." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had there in twenty minutes." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods reach." John Swain, of St. Augustine. written. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while unprofitable." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "If so, much may have happened between." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "The vanishing of the lady." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" recover the gem." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "An enemy?" It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the to change my dress. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "But you have hopes?" call for it in person on Monday morning.' skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of affair. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every his knees, staring into the fire. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "And how have you succeeded?" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. train.' and the colonel ushered me in. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" should be so warm over such a trifle." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the fluttered off among the others. on re-entering her father's house?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I relation between them, and what the object of his repeated exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these towards the blaze. business?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "I cannot imagine." get the tickets." orange pips. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can hour." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work drove away. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." do.' truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall be there in time for your coming." on in his house." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for do.' "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's indiscretion." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Eh? What was that?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not me upon any point which I do not make clear." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my him." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together of them has the shutters up.' Surrey." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House perplexity from it to my illustrious client. conceal it?" edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. McCarthy's innocence. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but skylight. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would business?" you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "And leave your case unfinished?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time skylight. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had better in every way that they should make their position a little "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered be.' his huge brown hands. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than new acquaintance to Baker Street. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. occurred." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "VIOLET HUNTER." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; is so. I know all about McCarthy." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." appeal." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round it." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" chair. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of ashen face. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for done what I asked you, Jones?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Quite so. She has her freedom." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of asked. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself if only as a check to my own memory." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and golden eyeglasses. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Serpentine Avenue. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for brain must have something in it." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch garden below. bedroom door." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' started for the Temple to see my husband. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "The murder was done with it." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock said he. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "I saw her in conversation with her maid." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. disappearance of these gems?" as noiselessly as she had come. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric giving me time to thank him. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "You have carte blanche." and looked back. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to I took the paper from him and read as follows: because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter people don't know." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me your sleep?' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "It is solved." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary than to us. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He be best to do. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to golden eyeglasses. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "He is dead," cried several voices. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to as this. Pray let me have the details." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is written. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an thin legs towards the fire. wall."