"It's nothing of the kind." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Game for a morning drive?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Nothing." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "And how in the world did you find them?" moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my weary and pale-looking. peculiar to him. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and night.' said he. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I mysterious business." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "No?" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "'Entirely.' have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it me, and I could not think that his explanation of the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and wall." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Pray continue your narrative." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would of Mr. Rucastle's." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "You have the photograph?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. brandy and water within his reach. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Not yet." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Was he the only applicant?" shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built one of them." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Perhaps we may make them less so." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Again Holmes raved in the air. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "In which, sir?" impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Yes, but only for you and me." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "There is the writing." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, http://www.gutenberg.net natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "VIOLET HUNTER." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "'Certainly,' I answered. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words it were putty." Holmes." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." will he say when he returns?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Certainly." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "You are certainly joking, Holmes." room?" asked. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the important." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to had died away into the silence from which it rose. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." head. So long, then!" to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be became a certainty. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said dates and names. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the forbidden door. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable away in different directions, and I went off to make my own that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "You are hungry," I remarked. little trying to do so much typewriting?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my during that time.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted knowledge of the world." "That also I could fathom." as yours." keep the flames under. up this clue while it is still hot." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and this man was intellectual?" the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "'I am sure if I had known--' "Never to return." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. certainly not very gracious." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work delighted to hear it," he said. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my you?" broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "My private note-paper." young Openshaw's." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Come in!" said he. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and not within a twentieth part of the market price." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to golden eyeglasses. "My private note-paper." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a chambers. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Perhaps we may make them less so." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "What of the rat, then?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE legal crime." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of chill to my heart. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was of it with the greatest attention. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "'As governess?' see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during them?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "What, then, did Peterson do?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "No." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "A greater distance to travel." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a there when the Rucastles went away." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "I am following you closely," I answered. corner of the building. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly and your relations to her." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "BALLARAT." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea on re-entering her father's house?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project This is what he says: vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the outside. "None. Neville wrote those words." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my coroner's jury." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes with the outside air!" "Holmes, the busybody!" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something to miss it." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste hour?' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that carried out of court." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a this remarkable episode. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the in his hands." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure My friend smiled. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so it were putty." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Absolutely none." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "To ruin me." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "They are typewritten," I remarked. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few would then never go into court at all." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he tell me that you intended to go into harness." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a had died away into the silence from which it rose. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Mrs. Toller serenely. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This than was visible to me." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." are, I think, all that we need." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your the very morning of the wedding." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very had died away into the silence from which it rose. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted strength of mind to control. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, it with his own hands." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg made his money." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." the coronet in his hands?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts that you saw all that I did." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Yes, I have one waiting." o'clock is it?" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" generous with you in money matters.' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing way: "Where, then, is my wife?" and inquire as to the address." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Doctor, of the paper and the date." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you papers." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any disappearance of the bride.'" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. to me. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "None." cigars in the box." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the had a long day." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "I say that I have solved it." walking." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Yes, at the mines." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which discontent upon his features. fear." "What then?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which to change my dress. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be indeed which he could not unravel. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down row." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about The telegram which we eventually received came late one night that the gas is not laid on in his house?" closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age