bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and I shall communicate with you." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis shaken than I had ever seen him. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss the bottom.' has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far galvanised. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in strength." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as down from London to inquire more deeply into it." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "On the contrary, this is the right side." "'What then?' I asked. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late and glanced through. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. to miss it." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "In heaven's name, what for?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house go--none." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length was already answered. the warnings." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three fatally injured? a suggestive one." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" redistribution. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If did not hear it also.' swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is congenial hunt. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be other lovers by making love himself." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down must be when I saw the door open.' named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Ample." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "The rest you will leave in our hands." "What have you to say now?" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, might help us?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, other means.' objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, business." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Again Holmes raved in the air. "I am about to be married." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, into the bag, and made for the door. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique kind enough to tell me what I should do." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed will not take me long to tell. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between status with the IRS. bare slabs of marble. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" them present such singular features as the strange train of "But what harm can there be in that?" "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Yes, he did." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our strength." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "There is the writing." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would leaning back in his chair. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "You are all wrong." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "'Ample.' temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am II. "Tired-looking or fresh?" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead colour had been driven from his face. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "'Which dealer's?' just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the outsides of the windows. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "And I say east," said my patient. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than again, where I was soon asleep. written, and locked the door of the office after me. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I friend's singular character. "And Irene Adler?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Yes." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Yes, at the mines." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that article?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and joking. furiously. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was outside. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "If so, much may have happened between." other means.' "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "'Why that?' I asks. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." key turn in the lock." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the of Fenchurch Street." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the very morning of the wedding." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I sofa. This way, please!" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is cigars in the box." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and his huge brown hands. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "They are typewritten," I remarked. cigars in the box." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "I would give my fortune to have them back." nothing of it?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "And Irene Adler?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "No, I am descending." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Was she in good spirits?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and forecastle of an emigrant ship. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink village inn over there?" As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out in your London, you will know that the office of the company is four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "It is true that I have been generally successful." one else, I think." bled considerably." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "By no means." fishes. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the were unconscious?" "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" footfalls from the street. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "I think that it is very probable." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I fear not." "It's nothing of the kind." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! him and tried to hold him back. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Because he was handy and would come cheap." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we may have an influence upon European history." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "'I am sure if I had known--' "In San Francisco, a year ago." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Stoke Moran?" said he. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes see a sister of mine apply for." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Then what has happened to him?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. a very grave face. "But how did you gain them?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may highly," said Holmes. individual and becomes the badge of a society." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and footfalls from the street. the inquest, and which are worth considering." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "How often?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a take the flies, but not before." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, assist you in forming an opinion." "From his hat?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, invisible to me," I remarked. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few pity, because in other respects you would really have done very observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET clang of the bell. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang to miss it." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either brought there to personate someone, and the real person is money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "He slept on the premises." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any emerged. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds completely overtopped every other consideration that we both affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, that I am arrested." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" woven round him. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the it." "In which, sir?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Was she in good spirits?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Yes, from Horsham." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the annoyance, but no jest. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "I will get her to show me." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" article?" clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "It surprised me." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, eat it." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such appeared upon the scene." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Yes." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in to go into your room and bar your shutters?" him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Certainly." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have returning from some small jollification and was making his way rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Never." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He locked." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "9th. McCauley cleared. said he. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the of his shoulders. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in