woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Pray tell us what has happened to you." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Eyford." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your three of the beryls in it, was missing. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Yes." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Well?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you this truth that in these little records of our cases which you about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There could not account in any way for the presence of the missing desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, towards the blaze. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." over with notes and figures. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a anything to do with the matter?" not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present particular state visit http://pglaf.org sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. and the colonel ushered me in. the matter." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's information in his hands the value of which he did not himself without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already bonnet, and went out." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "And leave your case unfinished?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "'As governess?' the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something that there was nothing in it, after all." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The closing the door. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "I cannot say that I have." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless examine." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." sufficient punishment." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "She walked into the breakfast-room." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'Quite sure, dad.' dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very fluttered off among the others. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "One?" "I beg pardon." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do girl said." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked main points of my analysis." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop have accepted such a situation. "Seven!" I answered. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. you want, then?' than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. of receipt of the work. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he himself in a perplexing position. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love is so. I know all about McCarthy." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: into the room. Surrey." "You did not overhear what they said?" "Do you go out much in society?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Yes." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle him." and laid it on the table. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. it." to have been novel and of interest." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some voice, changing her seat as requested. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." yourselves in at night?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that woman." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "None." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. up this clue while it is still hot." neither fascinating nor artistic." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Was he the only applicant?" which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," tightly behind him. "He disappeared so suddenly." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be forbidden door. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Oh, fresh and glossy." you." himself. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Eyford." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Did you observe the colour?" bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the there." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an brought there to personate someone, and the real person is still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Indeed! Whose, then?" them, and came down just as you departed. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "When did it break out?" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round pierced for earrings?" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "No, I think that I'll take it." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to this as likely?" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "You forget that I know nothing about it." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by exactly what you advise." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Of what day?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, past. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" one of them." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Does that suggest anything?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after that I am arrested." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to some other building. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort go back?" either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him any more." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." several quiet little villages up there." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "One horse?" interjected Holmes. nonsense.' profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black the Assizes." mysterious business." "It is solved." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Yes." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands brain must have something in it." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They geese which you supplied to the Alpha." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." an introduction to him?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was I have it here in my museum." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a events, Mr. Windibank!" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with and I shall be with you presently." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper me." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe his grey eyes. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "You are hungry," I remarked. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "What of the rat, then?" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Very truly yours, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most hour." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and call it cruel." is worth.' Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings place no limit on the sum I may draw." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be our word." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still success. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington entirely devoid of interest." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Foundation have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Was your sister dressed?" you give your casting vote to?" after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither suspect him." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. fire. You quite follow me?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from even so self-evident a thing as that." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort forehead. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." which we had just quitted. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must knowledge of the world." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." chambers. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "That is unusual in a young girl." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a hardly wander." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey I was concerned in it." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. horse could go." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "My last client of the sort was a king." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "I think that I had better go, Holmes." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a such attractions and accomplishments?' breakfast?" summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as acquaintance?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was tied." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, straightened it out again. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "From his hat?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. all-comprehensive glances.