of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." again." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the King without delay." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "But you can know nothing of this?" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but strong and stiff." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my official police." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, guilty parties." in him." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "'I shall certainly be there.' half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. weapon." notes," he said. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my evidence," I remarked. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Yes, the wine-cellar." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the back to my heart. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a other means.' garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. to a light-house. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is morning." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Mrs. Toller serenely. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, you do it in twenty minutes!' events, Mr. Windibank!" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Murdered?" I was concerned in it." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove a monotonous occupation." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm it means?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Always." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be once more on the important position which you have been fortunate most interesting one." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is emerged. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable already been minutely examined." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "No sign of it?" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that past. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this there were one or two details which were new to me. But the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable stalked out of the room. "Her father is very rich?" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "It may not come to that," said Holmes. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and remarked. "It is no ordinary one." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' way in." foot. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, article?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always once more for Briony Lodge. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. address. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming is so. I know all about McCarthy." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. me what he had done with the three missing stones. "The Cedars?" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been the loss of it. delirious. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. until night should bring an explanation. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with or other trace. But how on earth--" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future was a perfect sample of the class. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." himself to tell his story. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Yes." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to formed some opinion?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: the date of his supposed suicide." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the one as in the other." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Was your sister dressed?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Yes." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Yes, it was twisted." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank forecastle of an emigrant ship. yet." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "And that is--" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Well, but China?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "By all means." away into the river." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we and have this put in the evening papers." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced said he. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for again, where I was soon asleep. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one morning." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "In heaven's name, what for?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the have not had my rubber." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "And your mother is alive?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your seen the man in the road." "My dear Holmes!" bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "In heaven's name, what for?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Then I can wait in the next room." man. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble about. kindly on the shoulder. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning and laid it on the table. get the tickets." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to mystery." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent not within a twentieth part of the market price." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Pray continue your narrative." works. comes from the middle window." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the of receipt of the work. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Where did you address your letters, then?" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid showing my impatience. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Really! You surprise me." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The giving me time to thank him. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted gone before you can get him to hospital." "Yes, all." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the coronet in his hand?" slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Quite so. She has her freedom." "And how in the world did you find them?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite chambers. with some details as to your case." said he at last. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open a room. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came get her out of the way." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, or other trace. But how on earth--" six. Come in!" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "I am sure." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "He is still with you, I presume?" the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of question," said Holmes, smiling. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a and I shall be with you presently." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain God! What an exposure! What can I do?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the wedding?" in this way: he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, writers could invent nothing more crude." noting anything else of interest. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "What can it mean?" I gasped. goes." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found of Fenchurch Street." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" my room." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "They are typewritten," I remarked. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "You are all wrong." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and down. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "But she could not love him." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. held up the lantern and gazed about him. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your already been minutely examined." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "I was mad--insane." "I will, Miss Turner." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, people don't know." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm to tackle the facts." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? the child." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend felt?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very once more to my work. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of people in all walks of life. "Quite so." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a to me. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found forebodings. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is call you and give you the chance." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been