grasp, he hurried from the room. was a perfect sample of the class. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the house with me." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An figure." upon the white wrist. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I eat it." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should thin, with a long, sharp nose?" If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the was already answered. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed least a most suspicious remark." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about tied." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his meant." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter locked. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Ample." "It is very kind of you." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and prison!" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional national property. I was determined that the law should have its case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "None. Neville wrote those words." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "In the cells." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you washing it down with a long draught of water. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he which are rolled in Rotterdam." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Perhaps we may make them less so." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have to-night's adventure." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would then?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "And when will you call?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit fact, we may call it conclusive." "Was your sister dressed?" ordinary clothes on?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your bachelor.' of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "'Yes, sir.' very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "She will not sell." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided any." Holmes rather sternly. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a your bag." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "No. What a strange idea!" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell instituted." the room while you explain this matter?" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the bare slabs of marble. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Very much so." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming fear." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable trifles." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he mystery may be cleared along those lines." business." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, than was visible to me." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "My Mary? Impossible!" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "'You cannot say what it was?' prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the murdered man." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Were they all fastened this morning?" have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "How did you trace it, then?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "What have you to say now?" traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the lost his Christmas dinner." do.' things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, IS police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the general public were present, then?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a have established a very serious case against the son of the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She trifles." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall present." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you and the whole place is in a blaze." danger is over." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian know all about it," he snarled. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "And how in the world did you find them?" "I would give my fortune to have them back." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this could go. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his over here." husband's writing, madam." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this bears upon the case?" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing anything to do with the matter?" "At what time?" some city in a dream. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Stolen." the night.' companion. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old him nearly every evening." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds to some other building. something of him before." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Then you may be so with me." I approached. about here speaks of his kindness to him." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might here and I will read it to you: details should find their way into the papers. Inspector whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "I assure you that I am in your hands." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon derbies." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but will find little credit to be gained out of this case." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "I cannot as yet see any connection." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four tell him that I know him to be innocent." your most interesting statement." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. records." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few pressing in one house as in another. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as your billet.' any more." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "She showed me, as I told you she would." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "How about poison?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in purpose equally well?" newspaper selections." "How many? I don't know." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the License. You must require such a user to return or You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Who was the criminal, then?" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding not personally threatened." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "You have the photograph?" array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Have you good authority for what you say?" and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of coroner's jury." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "At what time?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." even of instruction." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who with some details as to your case." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my been shamefully used." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon individual and becomes the badge of a society." we went to search for him, face downward in a little Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted village inn over there?" interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, money should be paid at once.' however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "He said too much." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew as noiselessly as she had come. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into this remarkable episode. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired some terrible trap for her." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United and a shock of very red hair. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained October 9, 1890. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which coroner's jury." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive again, where I was soon asleep. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this status with the IRS. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his already been minutely examined." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said man. I know him from the photograph." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Upon what point?" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. and a shock of very red hair. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, in his power. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to are, and they are waiting for us." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Not I." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present been shamefully used." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the The police have openly confessed that they can at present make let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at as he remarks, very much against the son." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "It is a murder, then?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Who was the criminal, then?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "And how in the world did you find them?" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head gone before you can get him to hospital." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "But she could not love him." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "How many? I don't know." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" the child." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "'Certainly not. But why?' the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "The Cedars?" wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." locked." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "I have a cab outside." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Yes, it was twisted." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Certainly, madam." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "An enemy?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Where to?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly if only as a check to my own memory." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "You have a clue?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom chair. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and all that?" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Then he might have called to you?" other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, the station." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Of what day?" electronic works anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Surrey." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, ready to-morrow?'