be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" yards of it?' suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." you for a few hours?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was up this clue while it is still hot." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that seem to you to be relevant or not." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "But the mystery?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." acted in my house last night?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. him. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." tension within him. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the not, dad?" she asked. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I ready to-morrow?' any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he bird of prey. me have 200 pounds?' single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been main points of my analysis." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "And what did you learn from him?" have accepted such a situation. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Yesterday." other lovers by making love himself." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking your most interesting statement." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before stepfather?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the in. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Edgeware Road. "You don't mind breaking the law?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "How can you tell that?" least a most suspicious remark." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural extraordinary contortions. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have too. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with which should have the effect of calling the attention of the trying to your nerves." gone. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Quite so." him." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on of the vacancies.' just ask you whether you had heard it.' across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were showing my impatience. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your waste of energy." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "We were both in the photograph." "A greater distance to travel." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' she to prove their authenticity?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "It is no ordinary one." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "'Not at all. I only doubt--' children over to America with him, so that I found myself without There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I and the whole place is in a blaze." "Very much so." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was shoulder; "he's all right." "Absolutely?" "And I." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his of the one which your family is now devouring." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "He might." "I cannot say that I have." it with his own hands." wanted for ourselves." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found and glanced through. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already really the only notable feature about the thing." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished a monotonous occupation." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last the roots. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of this as likely?" rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my system of imprisonment?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white brandy and water within his reach. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working and no precautions can guard against." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for that "You have it, sir, just as it happened." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, upon the shelf for the interim." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I was mad--insane." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "By all means." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "He slept on the premises." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do experiences." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the very morning of the wedding." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "If I can be of use." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "So it appears." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "If I can be of use." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my him to be an active member of the medical profession." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Tired-looking or fresh?" he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless to-morrow." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search leave you to your papers for a little." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods must be when I saw the door open.' address. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about is," said he presently: started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Yes." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder prove to be little relation between the different incidents of questioning and rather startled gaze. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in paper in the air. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "But you have hopes?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "No, but the enclosure is." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and gbnewby@pglaf.org face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' where we are going." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Holmes' face clouded over. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "But how?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had where Mr. Fordham shows you.' them?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting presume?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "I don't say that. Perhaps." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond it." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But been able to understand it, in a very few words. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Holmes' room. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Certainly." confronted him. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "I am still in the dark." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with for and were ordered to this address. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you sufficient punishment." my secret was safe in his possession. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Thank you. And your address?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but out of this horrible affair." certainly not very gracious." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Precisely." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address have established a very serious case against the son of the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Really! You surprise me." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a suddenly upon us." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, room. "Deserted you?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper so far?" confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached imbecility!" he cried. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "But how will you look?" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "'Why that?' I asks. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Yes, the wine-cellar." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of him to be an active member of the medical profession." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "I never have." mysterious end." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, I am not easy in my mind about them." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "What, then?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and James Windibank. Voilà tout!" row." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he manager. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "How about poison?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Witness: I must still refuse. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," at a side door. is acting for the best. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he you give your casting vote to?" with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "I have seen the police." "None." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: your room." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I assure you that I am in your hands." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "But she could not love him." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of dates and names. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite in. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in should be so warm over such a trifle." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be there has been an enclosure here!" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six past. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I to go into your room and bar your shutters?" standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Well, but China?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of followed. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." enough to aid us in our search." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in will not take me long to tell. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came