round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our such attractions and accomplishments?' "It looks newer than the other things?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have meant." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my wanted for ourselves." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' that he will be back before evening." read it out to me." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for the little opening for the ventilator is." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each true." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at to have been novel and of interest." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival the running down." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the mysterious business." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "Murdered?" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of hand, madam?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "I was afraid that you were engaged." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "No, I think that I'll take it." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small as noiselessly as she had come. with you?" o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a gives a meaning to it." "That was it, sir." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third with you?" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES upon the sideboard." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "And what did you see?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "'Yes.' probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "At the wedding breakfast." copied or distributed: your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of his shoulders. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no and that he would see to anything that turned up. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. papers." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Dirty?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "It is possible." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "What is it?" "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "No bad?" A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "'Yes, I promise.' done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Do you go out much in society?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If again before evening." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "No bad?" "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" as he folded up the epistle. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with to tell." most interesting one." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "By no means." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the opportunities to fix the problem. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of upon the shelf for the interim." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Pool. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching as this. Pray let me have the details." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. I nodded again. "She will not sell." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had the coroner come to?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "On your arm?" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Certainly." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Yes." "But it has twice been burgled." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which danger is over." "Tired-looking or fresh?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon problems help me to do so." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "But what will you do?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who noise which awoke you from your sleep?" ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself chance." Miss Holder?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Just look it up, then." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in fatally injured? Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "What is it?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear shaken than I had ever seen him. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well but preventing her from injuring another. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "But of what society?" events than those which have happened in my own family." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his asked. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must presented which may be striking and bizarre without being room. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in off." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Very murderous indeed." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Was he the only applicant?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his forbidden door. tail." galvanised. "Was he the only applicant?" breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the his face which made him a very different person to the round, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Married! When?" to have been novel and of interest." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." went to the Alpha were town bred." "'Never,' said I. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in there." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we during which he might have communicated with his friend the "But you have hopes?" corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger in my life." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our when your master had gone out." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a and inquire as to the address." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me pound a week." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four true." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "And how have you succeeded?" these bleak autumnal evenings." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed the King without delay." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "On the contrary, this is the right side." chance at all." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of gone. must be when I saw the door open.' which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the The events in question occurred in the early days of my note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is beyond words. make me his representative both with the servants and with the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. followed. as he folded up the epistle. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he directly by questioning you." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from it. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "I don't say that. Perhaps." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "I promise," said Holmes. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the article?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Then you may entirely rely on me." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then likely to be some crony of the landlady's." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. which it had come upon my father." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "The vanishing of the lady." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish he died? drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was skylight. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Will you go?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "But the mystery?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, cause to be." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You Street. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! not fit the lock." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "No, I am descending." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City woven round him. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Won't it ring?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save as this. Pray let me have the details." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Awake, Watson?" he asked. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Was she in good spirits?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then himself to tell his story. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "No, finished." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "What!" he roared. existence." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "That is also quite modern," said the lady. matters immensely." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off dates and names. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Yes, there are nearly always some there." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always appointment with me for six o'clock?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the tightly behind him. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, that I can to serve you." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. in this note: a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the chill to my heart. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may emerged. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "'About the same.' established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the matter?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind outbreak?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest."