a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "'About the same.' XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "But the mystery?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it of his shoulders. the night.' your billet.' something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, sofa. This way, please!" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "And it is--" himself to tell his story. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness nonsense.' particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." burst out into a roar of laughter. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "And it is--" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it the general public were present, then?" "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned pierced for earrings?" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the events than those which have happened in my own family." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "VIOLET HUNTER." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step delirious. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "If so, much may have happened between." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I say that I have solved it." nice household for a young lady." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some in the port of London." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Deserted you?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at astonishment. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "He slept on the premises." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has constraint." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, himself in a perplexing position. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after bed dies. Does not that strike you?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for rose-bushes. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it as the one I chose?' "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Entirely." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "But you have hopes?" chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked be. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "BALLARAT." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the foot. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round better grown goose." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so had picked up in the wood. of your young ladies.' Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would something of him before." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "ARAT," I read. fact, we may call it conclusive." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." ashen face. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, your bag." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to call the police, let the police find what they can.' things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "He said too much." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I it right.' grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass way in." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "And it is--" A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "How did that help you?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Pray continue your narrative." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what friends, not even his own brother. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' village inn over there?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions use an arc-and-compass breastpin." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to better grown goose." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. three fields round his house, and there he would take his works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "'Which dealer's?' interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the hereditary King of Bohemia." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked little adventures." strong reason behind." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and papers diligently of late, have you not?" dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Proceed, then." villagers almost as much as their master. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before trying to your nerves." his forehead." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. awkward doing business with an alias." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Then I am your man." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five think that he is innocent?" thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "A confidential servant?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, as the one I chose?' Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it speckled band?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that me have 200 pounds?' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "The Cedars?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Edgeware Road. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "'Never.' "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" sofa. This way, please!" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered you found me to-night--and running through the front room she down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a such attractions and accomplishments?' wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of my former friend and companion. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must married her." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Then I shall certainly come." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." affection." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "'What are you doing there?' he asked. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to arrested. You then--" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to copied or distributed: "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Not in the least." of." "'I have heard so.' absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of you for a few hours?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable meant." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a his fortune, and I went back to pa. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to upon the white wrist. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to matter." "A greater distance to travel." said he. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "What is it, then--a fire?" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see such attractions and accomplishments?' there were one or two details which were new to me. But the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by cost them two and thirty pounds." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "Has he come with you to-night?" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not works. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "But of what society?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "What steps will you take?" I asked. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Absolutely?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "It is his hat." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of side. "You know me, then?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Yes, it was twisted." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door affair. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "It was a confession," I ejaculated. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was other, as fresh and trim as possible. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural your troubles." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you awaited us upon the table. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her indeed which he could not unravel. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "You horrify me." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "My photograph." easy-going way." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I have accepted such a situation. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. open." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian about. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Yes, from Horsham." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily returned to France?" "It came here." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all completely overtopped every other consideration that we both conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one my friend's incisive reasoning. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still indeed happy." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before absolutely follow my advice in every respect." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "My private note-paper." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "And sit in the dark?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon one else, I think." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding future lives." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo affection." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that I have it here in my museum." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "'I shall certainly be there.' behind me. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such seen the man in the road." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up answer." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "That is it on the dressing-table." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive,