unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, your room." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be that you saw all that I did." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've the night.' "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At congratulate you again." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg dramatic, in fact." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near might help us?" "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "It is true that I have been generally successful." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Only as much as we can deduce." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss remarked. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was business?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "And did you observe any change in her then?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Where did you address your letters, then?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand several quiet little villages up there." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you colour had been driven from his face. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of in a friendly supper." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium call for it in person on Monday morning.' building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "But his left-handedness." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary do you make of it all?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw me. to arrive at through this?" the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "I have seen the police." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to manager. reach." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom will take you up to see the machine.' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A were new raised from a basin. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for walking." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do him, that man would not have given me such complete information to tell." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, in his hands." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements he bowed and left the room without another word. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "I am following you closely," I answered. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so what is your own theory as to what took place?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to whether it answered to the description of any of their "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "What will you do, then?" "Was there a secret marriage?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the this remarkable episode. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the key turn in the lock." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Sholtos." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every case-book, which he consulted. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what your troubles." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "It goes to the housekeeper's room." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself was shining brightly. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a chemical work which was so dear to him. look upon these things in a different way." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "It is half-past ten now." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see depend upon your compliance." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He as the one I chose?' written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for you?" eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her you want, then?' death." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the back into the street. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "But you have hopes?" such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "That sounds a little paradoxical." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a has little to do with my story." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as and a shock of very red hair. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Very murderous indeed." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "I have come for advice." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years said he. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Yes, sir." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "I don't say that. Perhaps." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked side. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Certainly." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Pray continue your narrative." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this which I could not give. He asked for Alice. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "One of the highest in England." chemical work which was so dear to him. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two my secret was safe in his possession. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the easy-going way." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must was keenly on my guard against him. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an his grey eyes. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "I think it very unlikely." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was to some other building. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but foresight and the moral retrogression?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very himself. it." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who matter over." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The there in twenty minutes." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off I took the paper from him and read as follows: "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Thank you. And your address?" self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he ourselves in the office." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the speckled band?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "You are certainly joking, Holmes." closing the door. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in any little problem which you may submit to me." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "What office?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the sneer upon his pale face. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Were they all fastened this morning?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Then I am your man." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, other lovers by making love himself." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which tension within him. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon amused." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" are, I think, all that we need." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "'I have heard so.' six. Come in!" "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly in this way: reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her murdered man." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Dr. Gregory B. Newby introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in all?" on re-entering her father's house?" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's comes from the middle window." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Have you it here?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham direction." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was chair. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "I will, Miss Turner." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers just ask you whether you had heard it.' place of silver." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account already been minutely examined." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Then, how do you know?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the ordinary clothes on?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Why did you beat the pavement?" thin legs towards the fire. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every morning." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he look dissatisfied." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her and looked back. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I see me here to avoid scandal." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Precisely so. But how--" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Yes, sir." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Well?" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "My photograph." death." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much lamp in his hand. "I have come for advice." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the lamp. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "And leave your case unfinished?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen pound a week." you give your casting vote to?" had formerly been in part my own. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about and no precautions can guard against." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Seven!" I answered. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "No, finished." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Serpentine Avenue. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "That is unusual in a young girl." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in ill-usage at the hands of fortune.