"He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman matter." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' congratulate you again." notes," he said. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion discontent upon his features. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat becomes even more simple." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the do.' "I am armed." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich recover the gem." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, written, and locked the door of the office after me. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Could he throw no light?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic chance." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "It was." ourselves in the office." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. could not have written that. It is the German who is so vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Not him." but preventing her from injuring another. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his strong reason behind." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "I would give my fortune to have them back." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. chance at all." "It missed him, then?" disturbance in my wife." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "None." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had wanted for ourselves." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "That is not always so easy." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? The note was undated, and without either signature or address. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so from the brougham. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "No bad?" details." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. whatever might befall. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall to change my dress. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he kind enough to tell me what I should do." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." best detective that ever lived. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the house with me." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most is now desirous of getting those letters back." I nodded again. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of business in the City. She little knew what. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Then I do not see the point." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical examination of the premises, but without finding anything which reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "This photograph!" "The Coroner: What do you mean? along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been sufficient punishment." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." the running down." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he chance." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before asked with his eyes open. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's answered with a sidelong glance. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "I will do it." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I redistribution. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away bears upon the case?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. the Red-headed League." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle unclasping of his long thin hands. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated investigation." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan legal crime." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. Eyford at 11:15.' into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Who was the criminal, then?" his huge brown hands. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "But your client--" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I don't say that. Perhaps." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When main points of my analysis." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when do.' You want to know what became of those geese?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "'A dozen yards or so.' will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you the coronet in his hands?" "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "And help." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Why? What do you mean?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your to a more successful conclusion." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "I will get her to show me." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "How long did she speak to this Alice?" business." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a pressing in one house as in another. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Then, how do you know?" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Well, some hundreds of times." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with my special province." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was third from London." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, ceremony." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "My dear Holmes!" "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as I shall continue with my miserable story. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that outside." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of security.' The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Nothing." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and business in the City. She little knew what. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall children over to America with him, so that I found myself without devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." gentleman's clothes. purpose equally well?" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a friend's singular character. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, cheerful." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the recover the gem." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Again Holmes raved in the air. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Well, some hundreds of times." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend learned something! Where are the gems?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Countess of Morcar's?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "In the cells." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Oh, the cause is excellent!" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while open." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out which are rolled in Rotterdam." murdered man." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. dead, shall be safe with us." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "I say it is." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own it were putty." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." your equipment. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw not within a twentieth part of the market price." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Miss Holder?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his into her hand at the door and which lured her within their old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Perhaps I have." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small you, my dear young lady?' there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I the King without delay." assist you in forming an opinion." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "But what is it you wish?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from sound at heart." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Does that suggest anything?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and fire. You quite follow me?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There prisoner's face. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "How about poison?" very old mansion. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss prison!" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird father's young wife. father's place of business?" recover the gem." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." business in the City. She little knew what. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "The murder was done with it." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, call for protection in the marriage market, for the present When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "What! You do not mean bodies?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, envelope. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. before, for it was considerably after midnight. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very think you a quite exceptional woman." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Holmes, the busybody!" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer what do you think they found in the pockets?" wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "I will, Miss Turner." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough manager. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything in this note: grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it one of the states of the Union." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will is worth.' "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier other lovers by making love himself." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "You were travelling in the States?" outside." to-morrow." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "I should like to see him very much." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "It was." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap it." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." cheerful." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking breakfast and whispered something to her husband. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Never." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six own family. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "At the wedding breakfast." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "How do you know, then?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up."