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"The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of some place of shelter and let the county police know what has done what I asked you, Jones?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the tragedy. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Come in!" said he. "No more words. Get out!" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was will find little credit to be gained out of this case." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no newspaper selections." was a lad." "Yes." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to already referred to. events than those which have happened in my own family." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the meant it for the best. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "An accident, I presume?" his knees, staring into the fire. "I am armed." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of frequently gained my first real insight into the character of his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, dear old homesteads?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no it." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Nothing?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "I have a cab outside." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll for its centre. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his the bottom.' expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong goes." himself to tell his story. empty. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made suspect him." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." there is a decided draught." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." fuss that is made over them." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return strong reason behind." "'What, the red-headed man?' three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Project Gutenberg-tm works. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "It may not come to that," said Holmes. until night should bring an explanation. grasp, he hurried from the room. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There villagers almost as much as their master. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. The events in question occurred in the early days of my friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the fasten all the windows?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. a very grave face. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "You have compromised yourself seriously." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of vanished into the darkness. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of furiously. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Dirty?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "How many? I don't know." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he little trying to do so much typewriting?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely call it cruel." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be was shining brightly. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done side. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the running down." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two where Mr. Fordham shows you.' case before our client came into the room." were wasted." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you he. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "But what is it you wish?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "I was certainly surprised to find you there." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "Your French gold?" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then the so-precious time, but come!' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. some terrible trap for her." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Yes, that is the Crown." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin I nodded to show that I had heard. "But not more so than I to find you." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the King without delay." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You felt?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring joking. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is take the flies, but not before." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which have been better. It is all right." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Very. But will he see it?" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded was it brought him the coronet? 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the handed it to him. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That some water from a caraffe. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes works. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "'Which dealer's?' her also." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might system of imprisonment?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. rose-bushes. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "And what did you see?" glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found promised to bring home. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider 1.F. me. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every here." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "None." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all over his head with a sweet womanly caress. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, good-night and bustled off upon her way. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. of a light. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then jewels which you have stolen?' on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands way in everything. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address prepare for the new role I have to play." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us it with his own hands." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in are, I think, all that we need." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day see me here to avoid scandal." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "'Never,' said I. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a your bag." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, this unhappy family?" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Yes, it would be as well." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Why, it's a dummy," said he. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." arrested. You then--" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Was the window open?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good what do you think they found in the pockets?" friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "I answered that I had not. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we that threaten you." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average take the flies, but not before." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Where, indeed?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found case-book, which he consulted. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her noble correspondent could be. was feeling which was the fattest.' ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you the one as in the other." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Really! You surprise me." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the chamber." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Then I do not see the point." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Literary Archive Foundation telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of the stable lane now." But Holmes shook his head gravely. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving disturbance in my wife." the running down." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the was feeling which was the fattest.' entirely devoid of interest." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell mysterious end." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His drove away. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among because she had spent so short a time in this country that she surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "None. Neville wrote those words." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had despair." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the posted to-day." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project ordinary clothes on?" "Whose house is it?" stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Then how many are there?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "How did that help you?" nights." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as I have it here in my museum." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced bears upon the case?" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is showing my impatience. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small know all about it," he snarled. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Indeed! Whose, then?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. never to learn it at all." child?' bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as get her out of the way." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go third from London." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the might have a private word with us. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. cup of tea. "Thank you. And your address?" side. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has relation between them, and what the object of his repeated now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. interest. They are important, you understand, without being completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Did you observe the colour?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client