considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "'You cannot say what it was?' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "No." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is ago." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "How did you deduce the select?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these questioning and rather startled gaze. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Very well, sir. And this stone?" office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "But I have heard all that you have heard." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "The knees of his trousers." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "'And the work?' evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the and the church but not where the lady lived." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Tired-looking or fresh?" the Red-headed League." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Yes, I have one waiting." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are posted to-day." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by where she found matters as described by the last witness. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Heh?' the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some I think that I could be of assistance to you." ventilator." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "If I can be of use." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Street. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each him nearly every evening." "Not in the least." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the morning and make my own way in the world.' we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "On Monday." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford room had already been engaged for us. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Well." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either crackling voice. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will bell. Holmes whistled. "Look there!" said he. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Who was the criminal, then?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies future lives." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "You have a clue?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Absolutely none." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "'Where to?' gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, was lame." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely photograph?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has there!' contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "That's no good." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "But how will you look?" open." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon so.' door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Game for a morning drive?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his have accepted such a situation. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I believe that I should never have any practice at all. "I answered that I had not. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Perhaps we may make them less so." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the at a side door. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted carried out of court." "Yes." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "I see many objections to any such theory." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "And sit in the dark?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "And who is her maid?" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, was a loud and authoritative tap. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "'How far from the body?' is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "'About the same.' "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Then, how do you know?" me what he had done with the three missing stones. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to mysterious business." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left You can understand that this register and diary may implicate however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever case-book, which he consulted. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets disappearance of these gems?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on highroad, where all traces were lost. both be extremely obliged.' which I could not give. He asked for Alice. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where laugh and put his lips to my ear. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden in this way: "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "'Yes, sir.' extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Why did you beat the pavement?" presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle mystery!" cigars in the box." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly to have that photograph." that The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, next day. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to frequently gained my first real insight into the character of He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "And I." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is hurried by. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, house for five minutes.' it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "He slept on the premises." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "But we can't all be." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he handed it to him. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Texas, I think." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! and a shock of very red hair. "'Never,' said I. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the lamp in his hand. "'Why that?' I asks. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would some water from a caraffe. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There help us in this matter." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white in the dead of the night?' kindly on the shoulder. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat strength in the others." is acting for the best. returned to France?" when your master had gone out." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' depend upon my doing so.' immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, evidence," I remarked. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "I was certainly surprised to find you there." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, chance at all." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a events, Mr. Windibank!" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while business at Coburg Square is serious." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any once more. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough presume?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance miles off. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Pray let us have it, for all that." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the nursery. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was a monotonous occupation." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Not yet." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of man. I know him from the photograph." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "I think that it is very probable." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we clang of the bell. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our on re-entering her father's house?" endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would walking." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a nice household for a young lady." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all ways of our fellow-men." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "That also I could fathom." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "And your father? Did you tell him?" you." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been tell him that I know him to be innocent." asked. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still which should have the effect of calling the attention of the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, man. I know him from the photograph." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Mrs. Toller serenely. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "That is it on the dressing-table." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now your co-operation." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it habit of advancing money.' predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now always that they were such commands as a lady might with number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the returning from some small jollification and was making his way "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without of fine shops and stately business premises that they really 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of posted to-day." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out that you wished to speak to me?' I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the