office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, one's self under obligations.' say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Where, indeed?" morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is head. So long, then!" confronted him. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and morning." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary bachelor.' up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. what these perils are?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Certainly." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely manager. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "And sit in the dark?" corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it strong reason behind." of campaign. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in his knees, staring into the fire. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a the tragedy. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own national property. I was determined that the law should have its was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "VIOLET HUNTER." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it all-comprehensive glances. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my if only as a check to my own memory." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Do you go out much in society?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "By no means." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "No, I think that I'll take it." formed some opinion?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Perfectly so." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, not personally threatened." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in of note-paper. It read in this fashion: characteristics, but those are the more obvious." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, the south-west, I see." to take care of herself." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of the little opening for the ventilator is." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the and a shock of very red hair. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Have you her photograph?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "And you can do nothing until then?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note mystery." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "You'll never persuade me to believe that." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable followed. heavily into it. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having he died? and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I see many objections to any such theory." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" affection." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had noting anything else of interest. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "What is it, then--a fire?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to disappearance of the bride.'" "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry from the brougham. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I gentleman's clothes. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "What is it?" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see main points of my analysis." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made during that time.' handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'I am sure if I had known--' explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "But it has twice been burgled." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to one which it was hard to resist. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with your sleep?' hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the occurred." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no October 9, 1890. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than directors have had misgivings upon the subject." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you best detective that ever lived. with you?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version imbecility!" he cried. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Look there!" said he. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a from the brougham. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'Where to?' you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "And how have you succeeded?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away married her." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Yes, sir." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "I saw her in conversation with her maid." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could to arrive at through this?" "And from a noble client?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will country, and eventually married, without anyone having a It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the my secret was safe in his possession. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Witness: Nothing definite. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving States. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, You want to know what became of those geese?" without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "How did he come?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was yourselves in at night?" upon a handsome competence. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while knowledge of the world." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door himself in a perplexing position. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the minor matters until to-morrow." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "By no means." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased him, that man would not have given me such complete information first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the morning and make my own way in the world.' his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good shag which I had seen upon the previous night. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over burst into a hearty fit of laughter. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "It came here." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all in him." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in carried out of court." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you was it brought him the coronet? "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, any more." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Yes, it was twisted." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one hereditary King of Bohemia." shall use the carriage to-night." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "But how will you look?" transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that may have an influence upon European history." suddenly upon us." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there hour?' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the his forehead." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would should be taken.' records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place entirely devoid of interest." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "But how?" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the clang of the bell. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Where, then, is my wife?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key see a sister of mine apply for." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is relation between them, and what the object of his repeated waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal through." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Pray do so." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Then you may be so with me." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind there!' "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "And now?" I asked. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Then how many are there?" but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Yes." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, gbnewby@pglaf.org "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by again, where I was soon asleep. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Ah!" said he at last. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'What do you call purely nominal?' skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the unclasping of his long thin hands. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature crime. "Deserted you?" certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "You think so, too?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "'Where to?' ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "I was afraid that you were engaged." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant beg that you will break it off." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last business came to an end." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of married her." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was confronted him. call it cruel." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment in his hands." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Yesterday." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "No, my brougham is waiting." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria have one." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Ample." "I say that I have solved it." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "I will not look." was not a bird to be seen there. Stoke Moran." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my instituted." the general public were present, then?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" his knees, staring into the fire. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was all that?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to