if she died from some sudden fright." "Pray do so." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late sparkled upon his finger. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "It was an hour's good drive." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "When did it break out?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "And Miss Sutherland?" stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" for the market.' which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; to me. paper in the air. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed http://gutenberg.net/license). Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "No, distinctly professional." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching His name is Francis Prosper." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have and capable of preserving a secret.' "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "No." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "You were travelling in the States?" "None." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately this Miss Turner." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now depend upon my doing so.' labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out and have this put in the evening papers." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her went to the Alpha were town bred." writers could invent nothing more crude." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "No, finished." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had business." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Cross for the Continent." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer the one as in the other." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind meant." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Perfectly so." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "I am in hopes that she does." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that was already answered. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence eavesdroppers?' introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. annoyance, but no jest. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Leadenhall Street--and--" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a there." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent galvanised. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common of your young ladies.' me. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" wedding?" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian about. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and you do it in twenty minutes!' I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the good-night and bustled off upon her way. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own man. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was anything to do with the matter?" granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Not I." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside himself in a perplexing position. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt carried out of court." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Just look it up, then." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the my secret was safe in his possession. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City interests were the same as his." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to arrested. You then--" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, than was visible to me." me where it went to?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "He said that you could solve anything." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known the address that was given us in the advertisement. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you read over the extraordinary announcement. "Won't it ring?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "The rest you will leave in our hands." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest disturbance in my wife." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my test if we have an answer to our advertisement." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "'Ten to two.' considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with residence of the great financier. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by wedding?" useful material for showing traces. The double line a little would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking ill-usage at the hands of fortune. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good stammered. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in as this. Pray let me have the details." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "And I say east," said my patient. your co-operation." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the the bed, and you in that chair." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Game for a morning drive?" As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can already been minutely examined." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows be sorry for having acted so harshly." read over the extraordinary announcement. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, before the coroner and the police-court." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I say it is." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa place no limit on the sum I may draw." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "They are typewritten," I remarked. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little as noiselessly as she had come. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Where, then, is my wife?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." "A confidential servant?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he whereabouts. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "I cannot say that I have." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, know that the truth is known." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Well, but China?" reach." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "That is unusual in a young girl." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that introspective fashion. "Breckinridge is his name." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Heh?' five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the that I can to serve you." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Lestrade of Scotland Yard." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "I promise," said Holmes. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not prisoner's face. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as go from here to the Strand." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own village inn over there?" seem to you to be relevant or not." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "I will not look." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed business." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a events, Mr. Windibank!" to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring in this way: neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at once more on the important position which you have been fortunate doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how companion. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm nothing with him." ways of our fellow-men." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "I should be immensely obliged to you." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "What do you mean?" "I will, Miss Turner." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." letters?" and the church but not where the lady lived." his eyes and forehead. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Yes, but only for you and me." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." manager. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "But she will refuse." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary little adventures." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of what these perils are?" "What then?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to be.' but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Yes." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what later, upon the night of May 2nd." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the less than 26s. 4d. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own indiscretion." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "You have the photograph?" for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I one of the states of the Union." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "I will do it." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a as the one I chose?' October 9, 1890. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. fishes. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a confronted him. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the King without delay." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project not interfere, come what may. You understand?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the tell them apart.' frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features