it. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that DISSOLVED. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." her also." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "My dear Holmes!" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had with you alone." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at investigation." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "But his lameness?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I him!" "Who was the criminal, then?" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a charged with?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Do you go out much in society?" carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the guilty one." of them has the shutters up.' thin, with a long, sharp nose?" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been more terrible than the truth. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are now. It seems that there had been some informality about their XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "What is it?" He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the think you a quite exceptional woman." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though questionable one." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very held up the lantern and gazed about him. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is narrative." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "How on earth--" without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the introspective fashion. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Yes, I have one waiting." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Sutherland. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "'Never.' particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a It may be so in this case, also." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "I answered that I had not. Serpentine Avenue. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Could he throw no light?" it." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable directors, with the result that you have seen." entirely devoid of interest." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit vague figure huddled up in the darkness. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the inner apartment." "And what did you learn from him?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "'Certainly not. But why?' About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." have accepted such a situation. occurred." of Fenchurch Street." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the feature." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "And why?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made photograph?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "She showed me, as I told you she would." "And for present expenses?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "But it has twice been burgled." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Proceed, then." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one rose-bushes. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Never." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "In what way?" asked Holmes. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was points in connection with it which never have been, and probably to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "That is not always so easy." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "You forget that I know nothing about it." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed look upon these things in a different way." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the very letters. But what is this written above them?' year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I beg pardon." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had how narrow had been my escape. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar most interesting one." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "What! a murderous attack?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Precisely." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my strength of mind to control. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place lost his Christmas dinner." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that thin, with a long, sharp nose?" what these perils are?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "You horrify me!" "Never to return." go--none." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "I shall be delighted." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Did you observe the colour?" word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "And what did you learn from him?" particular state visit http://pglaf.org gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "At half-wages, in fact." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on on re-entering her father's house?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a definite end. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Entirely." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one once more for Briony Lodge. "Yes, it would be as well." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "What! a murderous attack?" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was me." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "And I to find an enemy." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "What then?" your most interesting statement." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." During two years I have had three consultations and one small upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Have you her photograph?" sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "I have my revolver," said I. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "What, then?" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "There are none." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the in your London, you will know that the office of the company is of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an long narrative. "But you can know nothing of this?" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those to surprise her." "I don't believe it." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "And it is--" John Swain, of St. Augustine. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have to miss it." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Precisely." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the coroner's jury." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving invisible to me," I remarked. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "No." "In the cells." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked Holmes' thin, eager face. lumber-room." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying fled together." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. Mary, has deserted me." Chief Executive and Director even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss again." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say chair. introspective fashion. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well knowledge of the world." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." he. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The which should have the effect of calling the attention of the retorted upon me, and I on you." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with together. are windows in it, of course?" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Pool. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "About a month then." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made dates and names. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I cannot imagine." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A written. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly exactly what you advise." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "What do you make of that, Watson?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Foundation every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the side-table." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a someone who had been in Australia." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again questionable one." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the was a loud and authoritative tap. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "And why?" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which,