small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Dr. Becher's." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced fuss that is made over them." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a one else, I think." astonishment. "What! Had he lost his wife?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few until night should bring an explanation. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "And when will you call?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock own family. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in one which it was hard to resist. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "I am armed." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." invisible to me," I remarked. "Yes." "Certainly." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" of them has the shutters up.' "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Stolen." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they furiously. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this became a certainty. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "'Never,' said I. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "This photograph!" room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET was a lad." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "That is not always so easy." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last said Mr. Holder. "What will you say?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation is a common subject for conversation. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My tail." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Did you become engaged then?" clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking plantation.' following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "'In my own bureau.' or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "It is solved." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "No." wanted for ourselves." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "No, my brougham is waiting." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "None. Neville wrote those words." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. you, my dear young lady?' imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City your bag." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't was feeling which was the fattest.' business at Coburg Square is serious." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the to-night." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' points in connection with it which never have been, and probably copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "You are hungry," I remarked. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' brandy and water within his reach. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it feature." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "You have carte blanche." fled together." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and guilty one." ceremony." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" thought that she would have been so carried away." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "The rest you will leave in our hands." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the so.' "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit secret." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to already been minutely examined." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "It is no ordinary one." "I am to be neutral?" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the cup of tea. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at as he remarks, very much against the son." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Well, but China?" workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon o'clock is it?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 your Highness to the police-station?" to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "No." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four success. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "BALLARAT." said he at last. "What is it?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called sake, don't!" questionable one." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort not interfere, come what may. You understand?" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, this Miss Turner." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some yourselves in at night?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a which should have the effect of calling the attention of the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "I shall be delighted." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Where, indeed?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "And why in hopes?" front of me. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you already referred to. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a has little to do with my story." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the any." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Dark enough and sinister enough." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "What, then?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no late!' word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done nights." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Not in a good cause." sound at heart." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. extraordinary contortions. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm was used.' "Was she in good spirits?" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it your Highness to the police-station?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "ARAT," I read. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "'I have heard so.' would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I ill-usage at the hands of fortune. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with undoubtedly my uncle's." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "How often?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "At the wedding breakfast." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Was there a secret marriage?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. answer." that I can to serve you." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." the inquest, and which are worth considering." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson nothing with him." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. nights." "Nearly eleven." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for which was all perfectly true. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to thin, with a long, sharp nose?" get her out of the way." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over I shall communicate with you." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, served to weaken the effect. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of you for a few hours?" "I would pay ten." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away me. You must get home instantly and act." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little hour?' expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two six. Come in!" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "'Entirely.' 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a neither fascinating nor artistic." companion. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a happened." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "But to whom?" mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard with you alone." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident there." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a this unhappy family?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." people don't know." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Again Holmes raved in the air. south, for the country is more deserted there." "An accident, I presume?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "In which, sir?" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given the driver. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Not in the least." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the will not take me long to tell. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet rooms." green of the new foliage. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country me. You must get home instantly and act." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "What! a murderous attack?" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the him.