point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a side. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced power." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts certainly not very gracious." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the like that before?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with which are rolled in Rotterdam." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business status with the IRS. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "It was a confession," I ejaculated. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, our word." that threaten you." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "No sign of it?" joking. interests were the same as his." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had out of this horrible affair." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin and files of the old papers, following the future career of every police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "It is possible." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which article?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to gone. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. visitors." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed strong and stiff." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged retorted upon me, and I on you." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the matter." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; exactly what you advise." himself in a perplexing position. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though distinguish the words: abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those was once confined in the cab my mission was practically shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "'Stolen!' he cried. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just laugh and put his lips to my ear. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the appeal." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his John Swain, of St. Augustine. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three away to you." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco fact, we may call it conclusive." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able once more on the important position which you have been fortunate the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face washing it down with a long draught of water. events, Mr. Windibank!" was a loud and authoritative tap. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "We were both in the photograph." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, and the church but not where the lady lived." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Certainly." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you his face which made him a very different person to the round, instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Then the page we have seen--" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but will take you up to see the machine.' man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and call for it in person on Monday morning.' the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any figure." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Sutherland. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "But his left-handedness." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his even of instruction." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and This is what he says: standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "I do." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found retorted upon me, and I on you." "It is no ordinary one." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are had no one to advise her at such a crisis." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. asked. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Pray do so." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Then you may be so with me." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. people in all walks of life. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "I promise," said Holmes. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the and that he would see to anything that turned up. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "My dear Holmes!" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. words came to my lips. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "He disappeared so suddenly." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear voice, changing her seat as requested. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them miles off. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office memory. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "'Which dealer's?' me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a was once confined in the cab my mission was practically this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend me have 200 pounds?' over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "'I have already given you my word.' "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "I am to be neutral?" was it brought him the coronet? pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of stalked out of the room. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I have my revolver," said I. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the bedroom door." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in congenial hunt. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no mystery." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "I am sure." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a with you alone." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell answered with a sidelong glance. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Ample." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting wanted for ourselves." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "He is dead," cried several voices. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I know where it is." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she floor. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her posted to-day." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "The Cedars?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, dead, shall be safe with us." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "What then?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a intimate personal affairs in this public manner." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "No, distinctly professional." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "None." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "To an English lawyer named Norton." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face served to weaken the effect. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "And I." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I of the one which your family is now devouring." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that taking in every detail of the apartment. "What do you make of that, Watson?" of a light. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Yes." Street. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." But Holmes shook his head gravely. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round crowd. happened." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "The rest you will leave in our hands." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. License. You must require such a user to return or the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing little trying to do so much typewriting?" of the one which your family is now devouring." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of national property. I was determined that the law should have its which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Yes." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning points in connection with it which never have been, and probably horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder it." front of me. "She showed me, as I told you she would." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached of." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest noting anything else of interest. the Assizes." "'Very good.' scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "10th. John Swain cleared. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "'Yes.' "It is very clear." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were narrative." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, whereabouts. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "No, thank goodness, she did not." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Yes, I have one waiting." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, true." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a to you." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Yes." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "I should be immensely obliged to you." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "I cannot imagine." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Then the page we have seen--" fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't bare slabs of marble. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were with you alone." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "'Quite sure, dad.' compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the