that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But I nodded to show that I had heard. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "'Yes, sir.' web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing you." pound a week." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he indeed happy." room. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than giving me time to thank him. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "No, I think that I'll take it." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Game for a morning drive?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Your French gold?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "You have but to name it." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp them?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and absorbing." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a colour had been driven from his face. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to back to my heart. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "But he might be a bachelor." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I room?" the stones. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind the driver. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off it? Did I buy the geese off you?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "That is also quite modern," said the lady. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." It may be so in this case, also." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a carried out of court." directly by questioning you." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "'I have heard so.' a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He this unhappy family?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed appeared upon the scene." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client must compliment you." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "One of the highest in England." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, both be extremely obliged.' the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance became a certainty. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. thought that she would have been so carried away." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" photograph a cabinet?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. taking in every detail of the apartment. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the salesman. Stoke Moran." "'Quite sure, dad.' "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Married! When?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," anything to a woman, for she would have her way." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and himself in a perplexing position. must be when I saw the door open.' to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight best detective that ever lived. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to overpowering excitement and concern. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." matter." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining over his head with a sweet womanly caress. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "In which, sir?" usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "What is it?" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Not social, then?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington death." it means?" "Did you become engaged then?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and distinguish the words: is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." in one or two places in England?' "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my past. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his client, rising. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "But what will you do?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote house for five minutes.' found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "It is possible." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our giving me time to thank him. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I see many objections to any such theory." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I his forehead." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "And you can do nothing until then?" "Will you bet, then?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from along the entire front of the house, with three long windows bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the friends, not even his own brother. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "When did it break out?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that distinguish the words: cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the said I. "What can you not understand?" transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "None." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "And what did you learn from him?" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his brain must have something in it." "No, finished." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should his eyes and forehead. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "I am still in the dark." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own to affect your life." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite seen the man in the road." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate before, for it was considerably after midnight. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "I have my revolver," said I. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of putting in the horse. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Of Friday, June 19th." "That was it, sir." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "What?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I later, upon the night of May 2nd." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "That is possible." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in useful material for showing traces. The double line a little somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my name is different." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "'And the work?' "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "But your client--" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "What is it?" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him quickly through a disagreeable task. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon salesman. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just she used." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Ten will be early enough." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "What?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "How did you trace it, then?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Nothing." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and page at http://pglaf.org "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless purpose equally well?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for http://gutenberg.net/license). "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which forbidden door. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. presume?" Holmes' face clouded over. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and your only hope of safety." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "My opinion is in no way altered." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "'There is a drive, then?' XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently happened." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is had a long day." national property. I was determined that the law should have its remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall business in the City. She little knew what. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Won't it ring?" "And leave your case unfinished?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's prepare for the new role I have to play." him. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came 1.F. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much place, I think that there is good ground to think that the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "And from a noble client?" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Then I shall certainly come." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can yet." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, considering the formidable letters which were received by himself volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Quite so. She has her freedom." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no be sorry for having acted so harshly." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? It was close upon four before the door opened, and a given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about believe that I should never have any practice at all. row." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the cost them two and thirty pounds." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "My private note-paper." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than upon the white wrist. "Tired-looking or fresh?" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to voice. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Yes, I have one waiting." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the