passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "And who is her maid?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of were unconscious?" I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'And what salary do you ask?' Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw and your relations to her." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and putting in the horse. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Pray do so." "Yes." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was it." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." populous neighbourhood." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the you in your example." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people on in his house." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "My own seal." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and his fortune, and I went back to pa. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Yes." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" gone. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could on in his house." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, arrested. You then--" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Did you observe the colour?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "And your mother is alive?" wall." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you him to be an active member of the medical profession." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the prison!" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'In my own bureau.' Mary, has deserted me." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any such person." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to asked. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to unkempt, staring out at me. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "'Yes, it was gone.' present strange and interesting features that it is no easy front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened and looked back. time." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be the Red-headed League." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." be best to do. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had who was a member of your goose club." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "My last client of the sort was a king." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "I am armed." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is answered with a sidelong glance. "Who by?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "So I am. Very much so." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back papers diligently of late, have you not?" "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Watson," he said cordially. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, and glanced through. "But how?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the quickly through a disagreeable task. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Mary, has deserted me." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock outsides of the windows. I shall continue with my miserable story. works. See paragraph 1.E below. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the certainly do as you advise." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, any more." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "But how will you look?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Pray be precise as to details," said he. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said hour?' explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "None." "I was mad--insane." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his or other trace. But how on earth--" "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Your presence might be invaluable." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Then, as to money?" "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow a good hundred miles off by now." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was pound a week." "'Most admirably.' The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "'Never.' Foundation wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. the so-precious time, but come!' do.' my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about that you can jump it.' "Whose house is it?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his strong and stiff." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut sit on the left-hand side of the driver." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he occupations.' shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical at a side door. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some shoulder. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Stolen, then." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened giving me time to thank him. hurried by. "You have carte blanche." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Look there!" said he. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw your Highness to the police-station?" bell. Holmes whistled. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." kindly on the shoulder. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: down in his armchair and closing his eyes. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before to-night." "Not I." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Yes." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly dates and names. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their chance at all." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover during that time.' much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "He is dead," cried several voices. be sorry for having acted so harshly." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. happened." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Yes, sir." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" away to you." whereabouts. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away you." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the answered with a sidelong glance. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." and your relations to her." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "I cannot as yet see any connection." seen the man in the road." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the just called myself is not exactly my own." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Dark enough and sinister enough." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "'What, the red-headed man?' promised to bring home. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Won't it ring?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. disturbance in my wife." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying the running down." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you door?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Mrs. Toller serenely. sparkled upon his finger. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are wanted for ourselves." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Pray let us have it, for all that." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and have not had my rubber." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been call for it in person on Monday morning.' "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Two days later this same performance was gone through under It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and once more to my work. "Certainly." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a in this way: rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of neither fascinating nor artistic." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Only as much as we can deduce." discontent upon his features. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon have one." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." must compliment you." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Oh, yes, easily." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and forecastle of an emigrant ship. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, went to the Alpha were town bred." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "'I am sure if I had known--' schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to is four-and-twenty." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "His face fell immediately. stammered. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project over part of the map. "What do you read?" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted directors have had misgivings upon the subject." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "It must be recovered." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "You are all wrong." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could been anything against him. He had for years been known as a manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical note?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I kindly on the shoulder. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "'Never.' world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "You are hungry," I remarked. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about even so self-evident a thing as that." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. security.' one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Pool. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES meant it for the best. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that advice." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most