you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch direction." "Was the window open?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the our word." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "What can it mean?" I gasped. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "But how will you look?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of singular points about the case. What did the police think of the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than I think that I could be of assistance to you." "My opinion is in no way altered." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "It is very kind of you." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. maid will bring up your coffee." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Lee, in the county of Kent." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive tell him that I know him to be innocent." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little presume?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his present strange and interesting features that it is no easy roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the quick march!" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it with frightened eyes at his accuser. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet system of imprisonment?" which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old thin legs towards the fire. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your in the dead of the night?' side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black bears upon the case?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his call it cruel." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the loss of it. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Indeed! Whose, then?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with License. You must require such a user to return or of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old cigars in the box." "But it has twice been burgled." the date of his supposed suicide." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their may never be exposed to such a temptation." way in." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "That's no good." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of that he has suffered." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have points to suicide?" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we then?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very that he has suffered." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his himself to tell his story. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, coat-tails." has little to do with my story." "Has he come with you to-night?" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream never came back." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Oh, yes, easily." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, it." national property. I was determined that the law should have its crime. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a McCarthy's innocence. key of the affair now." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a of his shoulders. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves trying to your nerves." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as himself to hunt down. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. narrative." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." III. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an I nodded again. "No." trifles." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "The Cedars?" perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "'Certainly,' I answered. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a I approached. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both answer." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. thin legs towards the fire. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the loss of it. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be was already answered. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Who by?" greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before delirious. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began kind enough to tell me what I should do." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "I cannot as yet see any connection." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between at once, for I have only half an hour." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask strange features which were associated with the two crimes which Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint learned something! Where are the gems?" appeared upon the scene." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' placed his cuttings. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Yes, they were peculiar boots." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike the dangers which encompass me." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden question," said Holmes, smiling. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her me." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "A confidential servant?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "No legal papers or certificates?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Holmes, the busybody!" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "What can you not understand?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom could not account in any way for the presence of the missing than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, advice." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the allusion to a rat. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "No, distinctly professional." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what John Swain, of St. Augustine. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for III. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that that mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "That you are never beaten." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. outbreak?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all main points of my analysis." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "And I say east," said my patient. mystery." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my morning." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "It looks newer than the other things?" tightly behind him. "'Very good.' the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." his grey eyes. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that pressing in one house as in another. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Yes, he did." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "At what time?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Did he not advertise?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." works. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "'As governess?' own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my call for it in person on Monday morning.' pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Perfectly so." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of back into the street. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Yes." some city in a dream. without a word or a look. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow wedding?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in made his money." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You brandy and water within his reach. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. kindly on the shoulder. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Literary Archive Foundation "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a spare." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had any." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in both be extremely obliged.' "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Was the window open?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she asked with his eyes open. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those any." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased to miss it." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it use an arc-and-compass breastpin." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "That you are never beaten." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "So it appears." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." Dr. Gregory B. Newby delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "You did not overhear what they said?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my the one as in the other." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "What can you not understand?" their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you nights." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was the window, rose as we entered. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and inquire as to the address." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "I don't say that. Perhaps."