"My stepfather's business papers." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, McCarthy's innocence. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Absolutely?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Your sister is dead, then?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill indiscretion." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother there is a decided draught." Arthur Conan Doyle I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a address. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "You are all wrong." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "And sit in the dark?" About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the and wait." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With key of the affair now." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" stood on the top of it. "I cannot tell." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out door?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? to-night." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Well." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked breakfast and whispered something to her husband. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "The Cedars?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, thought that she would have been so carried away." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "No." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. one of the states of the Union." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a she used." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "One?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting six. Come in!" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would The police have openly confessed that they can at present make her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. jewels which you have stolen?' saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "What is it, then--a fire?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "I cannot imagine." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four dramatic, in fact." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. take the flies, but not before." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "By no means." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy you for a few hours?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. take the flies, but not before." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Why did you beat the pavement?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "A client, then?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her even of instruction." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the touch that coronet?' "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or opportunities to fix the problem. "Nothing." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in stalked out of the room. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Yes, the wine-cellar." British peeress.'" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, the date of his supposed suicide." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United we went to search for him, face downward in a little without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a formed some opinion?" the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He least a most suspicious remark." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "None." brain must have something in it." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your certainly not very gracious." Holmes' thin, eager face. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must into the bag, and made for the door. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his gone before you can get him to hospital." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would address. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at dramatic, in fact." "In heaven's name, what for?" his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." to surprise her." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. disappearance of these gems?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Leadenhall Street--and--" "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "And did you observe any change in her then?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting indeed happy." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Could he throw no light?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "I cannot tell." weighed down with some great anxiety. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and second window is the one that I jumped from." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her ready to-morrow?' to me. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I have hopes." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "My private note-paper." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was manager. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Never." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, chance." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "From his hat?" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the our word." unprecedented a position." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a silent! Oh, he will be silent!' depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Yes, only one." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Nothing." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "But you have hopes?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my crackling voice. "A client, then?" promised to bring home. it." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "'Ten to two.' fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly friend's singular character. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag woman." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Then I shall certainly come." the room while you explain this matter?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "What have you to say now?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Where, then?" which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other one of them." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had tightly behind him. "Yes, certainly." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "An accident, I presume?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a situation." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of memory. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Could he throw no light?" heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Won't it ring?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such persecution?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I I leave." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. have established a very serious case against the son of the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Nothing." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "I warn you that they are very incomplete." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning that you can jump it.' house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "'Why that?' I asks. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One had this final quarrel? It may be so in this case, also." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "And how in the world did you find them?" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey depend upon my doing so.' with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, said I. "Then how many are there?" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to arms and began to sob in a high treble key. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "I am sure." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must success. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring lost nothing by them." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a sneer upon his pale face. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same joking. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "What?" gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "And why?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. man. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "An accident, I presume?" Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was into the bag, and made for the door. just ask you whether you had heard it.' he. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "And your father? Did you tell him?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Yes, the wine-cellar." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his leaning back in his chair. "Never." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the most interesting one." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so results." up this clue while it is still hot." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "I have a cab outside." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my begin with, and I had not got mine yet." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important your bag." have had none more fantastic than this." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to and prosperity to your house. Good-night." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. true." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "But you can know nothing of this?" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small call it cruel." in his power. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the your equipment. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. rose-bushes. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the the general public were present, then?" "The vanishing of the lady." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." never will be, entirely cleared up. death." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps allusion to a rat. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight foot. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Not him." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, call for it in person on Monday morning.' see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of London for the present?" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of man. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I