It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and God! What an exposure! What can I do?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. that you wished to speak to me?' actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Where did you address your letters, then?" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Have you good authority for what you say?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to photograph?" corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "The King of Scandinavia." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the dangers which encompass me." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Never to return." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest obstinate." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Your presence might be invaluable." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "But the mystery?" "By train from Waterloo." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Do you go out much in society?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I this unhappy family?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to congenial hunt. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated case-book, which he consulted. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" my friend's incisive reasoning. "In the cells." and the whole place is in a blaze." photograph?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which deduce something from that?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "So I am. Very much so." about here speaks of his kindness to him." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to my friend's incisive reasoning. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police three of the beryls in it, was missing. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found any more." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. photograph?" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "And the murderer?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second and it need not interfere very much with one's other business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Countess of Morcar's?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "One?" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had returned to France?" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "And how have you succeeded?" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the the address that was given us in the advertisement. where she found matters as described by the last witness. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Very well, sir. And this stone?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "And you can do nothing until then?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic completely overtopped every other consideration that we both multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it bears upon the case?" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be Heh?' "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, considering the formidable letters which were received by himself room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "To ruin me." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. himself to hunt down. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Yes, certainly." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of ventilator." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' directors, with the result that you have seen." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." in his hands." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the did not hear it also.' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular characteristics, but those are the more obvious." head. So long, then!" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to answered with a sidelong glance. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "It came here." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Absolutely none." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the room while you explain this matter?" Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Witness: Nothing definite. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those congenial hunt. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his back alive. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I about. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy kind enough to tell me what I should do." "But how will you look?" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was she might be summoned. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am of campaign. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of occurred." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' like gravel from a pit.' "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "No." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'Certainly,' I answered. "But what is it you wish?" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off writing, and yet I know it well." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I McCarthy's innocence. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard she slowly sank and died without having recovered her End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by closely." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of noting anything else of interest. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "I am to be neutral?" "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. security.' I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that not fit the lock." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "What will you say?" "Dirty?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "You have a clue?" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg answered with a sidelong glance. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "I will get her to show me." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and footfalls from the street. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "I cannot think." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, approach us with offers to donate. sound at heart." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "And the murderer?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was national property. I was determined that the law should have its when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you once more to my work. trifles." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular fatally injured? analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Awake, Watson?" he asked. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "This concluded the examination of the witness." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow remarked. photograph?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Then he might have called to you?" one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never should be taken.' might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that to go into your room and bar your shutters?" deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "'You doubt its value?' he asked. enough to aid us in our search." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. you." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. thin legs towards the fire. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for views." Lee, in the county of Kent." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "It goes to the housekeeper's room." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little written, and locked the door of the office after me. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat down. "What office?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Bought." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "What then?" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Surrey." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "But how did you gain them?" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "I was certainly surprised to find you there." matter." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp never to learn it at all." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "BALLARAT." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through From what you have told me I think that it is possible that 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his she to prove their authenticity?" the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my lost his Christmas dinner." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Your French gold?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "'I am sure if I had known--' coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son might have a private word with us. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Really! You surprise me." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Texas, I think." once more. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." ways of our fellow-men." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is wedding?" of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Texas, I think." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon right! Sit down and let us talk it over." the very morning of the wedding." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations undoubtedly my uncle's." "Did your wife hear all this?" police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the that I can to serve you." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "And I." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so and have this put in the evening papers." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell perplexity from it to my illustrious client. man. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" sparkled upon his finger. companion. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "He is still with you, I presume?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should and glanced through. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Could he throw no light?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "What then?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "She will not sell." experiences." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive purpose equally well?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into and have this put in the evening papers." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would future lives." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in had no one to advise her at such a crisis." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads of receipt of the work. "Pray do so." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it his fortune, and I went back to pa. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.'