have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of forbidden door. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. bedroom door." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Project Gutenberg-tm works. and effective." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of noble correspondent could be. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I lumber-room." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Do you go out much in society?" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that enter into my head. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Of what?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." arrangements." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "None." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Seven!" I answered. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There get her out of the way." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Which are?" once more for Briony Lodge. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one asked with his eyes open. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "There are none." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before back alive. "You are hungry," I remarked. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand Foundation we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "'Certainly not.' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon chair. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that to that open window." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an narrative." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the are windows in it, of course?" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "So I heard. You have him here?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her over here." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger once more to my work. made him keep the appointment." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the that?' you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Stoke Moran." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Witness: I must still refuse. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." think, you have already met." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head my friend's incisive reasoning. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Pray do so." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Yes." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for straightened it out again. became a certainty. rat could hardly pass through." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man the south-west, I see." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "And you don't know his address?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "'Ample.' the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "One?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "'Never.' and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "'A dozen yards or so.' crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her himself in a perplexing position. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous ashen face. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Very truly yours, tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Why did you pick him?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until went to the Alpha were town bred." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I strode off upon his way. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "You forget that I know nothing about it." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most my special province." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "And why?" who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind third from London." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Thank you. Pray proceed." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in not, dad?" she asked. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. cigars in the box." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Murdered?" before the coroner and the police-court." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen been with you?" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I young Openshaw's." bird of prey. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his written. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but call for protection in the marriage market, for the present And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the bottom.' have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "I cannot imagine." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I have seen the police." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the true." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I promise," said Holmes. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian bell. Holmes whistled. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." will be renamed. them, and came down just as you departed. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "What is it?" hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of affair. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident side. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though a room. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "No." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Heh?' "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. dates and names. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into the side-table." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to recall any case within my experience which looked at the first of them has the shutters up.' "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Thank you. And your address?" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress matter." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "It is half-past ten now." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "My last client of the sort was a king." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Nothing." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "An accident, I presume?" would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "'Entirely.' cigars in their mouths. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do posted to-day." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had if she died from some sudden fright." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His way: foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their bonnet, and went out." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" this unhappy family?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your is four-and-twenty." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the south-west, I see." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill off." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "To ruin me." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "I answered that I had not. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just open." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. copied or distributed: Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "No." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, appointment with me for six o'clock?" to-morrow." in. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom in him." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the inquest, and which are worth considering." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Never." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "And you don't know his address?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Of Friday, June 19th." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Will you go?" Stoke Moran." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over least a most suspicious remark." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "You were travelling in the States?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "And why?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that do you make of it all?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the even of instruction." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." some terrible trap for her." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where God! What an exposure! What can I do?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life to-night?" I asked. I. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our tell me that you intended to go into harness." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "No, finished." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" approach us with offers to donate. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, like that before?" chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Yes, all." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, room?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that any more." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's be best to do. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "What then?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present time." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or we went to search for him, face downward in a little interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "No good news?" step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the matter?" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "By no means." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself carried out of court." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off affection." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw death." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the habit of advancing money.' matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp only touch the interest." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been