your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to to tell." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." delighted to hear it," he said. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how became a certainty. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." tell him that I know him to be innocent." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the to-morrow." "No. What a strange idea!" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. neither fascinating nor artistic." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it became a certainty. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much take the flies, but not before." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. once more to my work. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Then I shall certainly come." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such foresight and the moral retrogression?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "And why?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive society." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "One horse?" interjected Holmes. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look your troubles." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Yes, that is the Crown." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, just called myself is not exactly my own." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the heavily into it. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons a suggestive one." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of papers on the sundial.'" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Yes, from Horsham." "Ample." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive feature." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "The knees of his trousers." this unhappy family?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "What have you done?" asked Holmes. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "'Never,' said I. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal McCarthy." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar public press." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "'Why that?' I asks. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the few hundred pounds.' right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried new acquaintance to Baker Street. front of me. is now desirous of getting those letters back." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which tell him that I know him to be innocent." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other him!" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Was she in good spirits?" herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were that he will be back before evening." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see the tragedy. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your happened." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "By all means." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately be best to do. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the hand, madam?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but been with you?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to said he. for the market.' away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Street. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Mary, has deserted me." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Precisely so. But how--" "No, distinctly professional." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella crackling voice. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "By all means." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and foresight and the moral retrogression?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, had formerly been in part my own. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were him to be an active member of the medical profession." must be when I saw the door open.' to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Was she in good spirits?" If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the The police have openly confessed that they can at present make hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence sit on the left-hand side of the driver." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I photograph a cabinet?" that I am arrested." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the when you have done it." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed What do you deduce from it?" where we are going." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "'Is 4 pounds a week.' similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Won't it ring?" "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's begin with, and I had not got mine yet." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "One?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit may never be exposed to such a temptation." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Certainly." business?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "About a month then." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "But you can know nothing of this?" own family. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you of Fenchurch Street." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "I think that it is very probable." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "But what harm can there be in that?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "His face fell immediately. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "'Where to?' lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "What! Had he lost his wife?" companion. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "'Quite sure, dad.' papers diligently of late, have you not?" "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Yes, sir." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "And how did he make his money?" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view indiscretion." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At heavily into it. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily delirious. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "The decline of his fortunes, then?" upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely weighed down with some great anxiety. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for directors have had misgivings upon the subject." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a done what I asked you, Jones?" "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still back alive. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "And Irene Adler?" occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "'About the same.' Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "How are you getting on?" heavily into it. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "No, thank goodness, she did not." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "That is easily got." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They careless servant girl?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "When did it break out?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "No, my brougham is waiting." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Why serious?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "And that is--" detained." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few tapping his fingers upon the table. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. outside. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the tragedy. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "'Most admirably.' indeed which he could not unravel. "What is it?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he she has been waylaid. There has been no result." plantation.' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most several quiet little villages up there." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it girl said." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "What is it?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "I see many objections to any such theory." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "I am in hopes that she does." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Countess of Morcar's?" how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and for securing the situation." depend upon your compliance." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it remarked. "Were they all fastened this morning?" "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a locked. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "'And what are they worth?' I asked. always that they were such commands as a lady might with "But you were on a friendly footing?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "How often?" across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him habit of advancing money.' "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "What do you make of that, Watson?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is served to weaken the effect. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable allusion to a rat. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by seven miles from Eyford Station.' door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly be. "Why did you beat the pavement?" opportunities to fix the problem. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the