are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And to his chemical studies. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his me." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled like gravel from a pit.' that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'What, the red-headed man?' "But what will you do?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace to-night?' "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one call the police, let the police find what they can.' hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" events, Mr. Windibank!" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the way in everything. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." I leave." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent lamp. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in The events in question occurred in the early days of my Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry following enigmatical notices: hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Precisely so. But how--" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "'It is locked up,' I answered. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try if she died from some sudden fright." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of to talk it over. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "To the police?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake she used." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and enter into my head. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. from the brougham. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." strong reason behind." hopeless attempt at recovering them." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All speckled band?" "Certainly, madam." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit right! Sit down and let us talk it over." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten gone. woman." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." chamber." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out peculiar to him. "Yes, I have one waiting." six. Come in!" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." to a light-house. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "You think so, too?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." which our visitor detailed to us. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "I shall most certainly do so." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "He said too much." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "May I see it?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the best detective that ever lived. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. crime. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "That you are never beaten." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "You did not overhear what they said?" arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "To the police?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, them?" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what his huge brown hands. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is what these perils are?" giving me time to thank him. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." side. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey to that open window." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, I held the little printed slip to the light. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers could not have written that. It is the German who is so Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" disappearance of the bride.'" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me about. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it were unconscious?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "What then?" delighted to hear it," he said. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do name is different." security.' familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and where we are going." fuss that is made over them." digesting their breakfasts at home." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "One of the highest in England." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "But your client--" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Again Holmes raved in the air. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in sake, don't!" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to made him keep the appointment." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here likely to be some crony of the landlady's." prison!" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him just called myself is not exactly my own." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said about here speaks of his kindness to him." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" been with you?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do foot. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we drawing your inferences." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I I approached. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Then you may be so with me." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to trifles." knowledge of the world." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and within hail.' cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. as he folded up the epistle. had a long day." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "'Certainly not. But why?' prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I thirty. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward the salesman. enough to aid us in our search." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." bill, which interests me deeply." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on to a more successful conclusion." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with information in his hands the value of which he did not himself unkempt, staring out at me. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "I guessed as much." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "'Entirely.' and looked back. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which what is your own theory as to what took place?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and go from here to the Strand." "'As governess?' he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Yes." have got?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent foresight and the moral retrogression?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Dr. Gregory B. Newby between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a man. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "'No, I know no one in these parts.' chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the very letters. But what is this written above them?' should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of fact, we may call it conclusive." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is events, Mr. Windibank!" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "I will, Miss Turner." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all present." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis present strange and interesting features that it is no easy realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the I held the little printed slip to the light. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" placed his cuttings. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Foundation cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "How did that help you?" into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the hour?' and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon bearing upon the case." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in a good hundred miles off by now." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. head. So long, then!" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "What have you done?" asked Holmes. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Nothing." hour." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled to tackle the facts." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which not come at once?" LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR http://gutenberg.net/license). street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my she has been waylaid. There has been no result." returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Yes." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said notes," he said. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Imitated." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted you found me to-night--and running through the front room she even of instruction." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a you understand?" It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "And the cigar-holder?" piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of country, and eventually married, without anyone having a