There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "And you don't know his address?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple me. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself had a long day." interested in these little problems, and since you are good to you." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "What?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was nothing of it?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our very old mansion. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "'What then?' I asked. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said your most interesting statement." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an have not had my rubber." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to keep the flames under. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." question," said Holmes, smiling. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very with her." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a hour." becomes even more simple." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the opportunities to fix the problem. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Awake, Watson?" he asked. his knees, staring into the fire. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven front of me. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull where we are going." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Certainly." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Yes." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, could not account in any way for the presence of the missing answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Why serious?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and upon the shelf for the interim." strong reason behind." galvanised. without a word or a look. help us in this matter." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as father's young wife. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told shadow pass over his face as I spoke. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an narrative." "'How far from the body?' acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "'Ample.' "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." promised to bring home. "Witness: It was. that?' horse could go." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal The note was undated, and without either signature or address. anything to do with the matter?" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "But his left-handedness." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of have I gained?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as of the vacancies.' "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." it." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Yes." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a in the port of London." events, Mr. Windibank!" as this. Pray let me have the details." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Not in the least." address. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said copied or distributed: which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But forehead. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew particular state visit http://pglaf.org with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "I will do it." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, showing my impatience. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and writers could invent nothing more crude." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Entirely." you, my dear young lady?' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and I shall be with you presently." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer hardly wander." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there key of the affair now." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." matters immensely." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up me, and I could not think that his explanation of the like gravel from a pit.' little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want maid will bring up your coffee." tear off another piece?' "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. you came in." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. village inn over there?" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar once more. "I have come for advice." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return his fortune, and I went back to pa. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really morning." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "And why?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now becomes even more simple." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out take the flies, but not before." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and rose-bushes. wedding?" keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. examine." success. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "My opinion is in no way altered." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the awaited us upon the table. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Then I am your man." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. to have that photograph." rose-bushes. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Pope's Court. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the John Swain, of St. Augustine. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. strong reason behind." "Entirely." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "And is that all?" to tell." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "My dear Holmes!" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "I will not look." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage definite end. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he problems help me to do so." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman nothing of it?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. wedding?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." page at http://pglaf.org man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and your equipment. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came you for a few hours?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all him to be an active member of the medical profession." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I bearing upon the case." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had out." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, touch that coronet?' 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "No, thank goodness, she did not." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" morning." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed plantation.' need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which chill to my heart. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Only as much as we can deduce." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay thought that she would have been so carried away." cup of tea. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a begun to whiten, even as mine has." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed 'please.'" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "'Entirely.' when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one place, I think that there is good ground to think that the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "I am about to be married." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "You are hungry," I remarked. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "We have tried and failed." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate not fit the lock." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or towards the blaze. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, happened." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for records." fire. You quite follow me?" combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the matter." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present arrested. You then--" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Where, indeed?" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the inner apartment." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock you." "The rest you will leave in our hands." companion. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told out of this horrible affair." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, not as remarkable as your advertisement." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Yes." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "What I expected to see." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of during that time.' and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means leave you to your papers for a little." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. started for the Temple to see my husband. of." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "What can it mean?" I gasped. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method suggested at once that there must be a communication between the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "And I." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of even of instruction." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Breckinridge is his name." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a not use it unless it is absolutely needed." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange garden below. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the to miss it." instituted." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an the address that was given us in the advertisement. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is