week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "What then?" "And leave your case unfinished?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Really! You surprise me." secret." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and very morning of my second wedding." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his populous neighbourhood." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "You know me, then?" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided I am not easy in my mind about them." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Not social, then?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could into the bag, and made for the door. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." his eyes and forehead. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "And how?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On particular state visit http://pglaf.org Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, there when the Rucastles went away." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the tragedy. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "I say it is." one which it was hard to resist. mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Not him." been deceived." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a papers on the sundial.'" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of ago." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Mrs. Toller serenely. "You have a clue?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "I have seen the police." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by you give your casting vote to?" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "I am to be neutral?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for mystery." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. any." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Your presence might be invaluable." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend manager. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the matter." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew intimate personal affairs in this public manner." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key eavesdroppers?' "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor conversation I have gathered that they have been married about reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they she slowly sank and died without having recovered her impression behind it as though a window had gently closed and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, said he. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a someone who had been in Australia." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof tassel actually lying upon the pillow. enough to aid us in our search." "Thank you. And your address?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "We were both in the photograph." "He said that you could solve anything." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case as noiselessly as she had come. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "My dear Holmes!" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Oh, yes, easily." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Nothing?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. long narrative. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the went to the Alpha were town bred." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "My dear Holmes!" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I should be taken.' middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been up this clue while it is still hot." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was and put his glass in his pocket. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord chamber." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and very peculiar words of the dying woman?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Then he might have called to you?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One I held the little printed slip to the light. "And sit in the dark?" "It came here." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "She showed me, as I told you she would." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own she slowly sank and died without having recovered her The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no made him keep the appointment." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I I think that I could be of assistance to you." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "And the murderer?" "Witness: It was. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or vault. question. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal absorbing." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of For additional contact information: frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "So it appears." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "But what is it you wish?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "'Yes.' "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and in him." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "What are they?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand on re-entering her father's house?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always suddenly upon us." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." prison!" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. with you?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love soul! here is her carriage at the door." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the call it cruel." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property round and wave him away like that.' weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Then how many are there?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the me have 200 pounds?' been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "A client, then?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for felt?" foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he McCarthy's innocence. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any confronted him. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "'A dozen yards or so.' high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent was feeling which was the fattest.' glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Never." you." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "10th. John Swain cleared. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew always that they were such commands as a lady might with errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of feature." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. cigar and let me expound." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and fear." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "Precisely so. But how--" "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "In which, sir?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this ran thus: whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you on in his house." feature." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come developed." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" Heh?' dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Quite so. She has her freedom." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the horse could go." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Entirely." "Well." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are arrangements." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray train.' in this note: Leadenhall Street--and--" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and it were putty." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see His smile broadened. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible begin with, and I had not got mine yet." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. not come at once?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up province." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a made his money." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you at my own good fortune. "This concluded the examination of the witness." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Thank you. Pray proceed." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise narrative." here." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to call the police, let the police find what they can.' sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is chair. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "So I have heard." "Then how many are there?" "What then?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "What will you do, then?" which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "'Certainly,' I answered. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the window, rose as we entered. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle his forehead." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But and the colonel ushered me in. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "She told me to ask you." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Countess of Morcar's?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. your only hope of safety." nice household for a young lady." fear." wife's character?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a is a common subject for conversation. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence The police have openly confessed that they can at present make circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in it? Did I buy the geese off you?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found