to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small exactly what you advise." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the in his power. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. at my remark. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "On your arm?" congratulate you again." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Well, but China?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "That was it, sir." "But what will you do?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Your sister is dead, then?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; off." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited good-night and bustled off upon her way. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the memory. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my tightly behind him. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, mystery!" promised to bring home. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' hardly wander." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, case-book, which he consulted. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "My opinion is in no way altered." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." became a certainty. the station." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "My dear Holmes!" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "What is it?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story it." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it straightened it out again. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange would apply.' national property. I was determined that the law should have its down. you give your casting vote to?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "This concluded the examination of the witness." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite I shall communicate with you." the coroner come to?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Game for a morning drive?" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey least a fellow-countryman. and no precautions can guard against." suddenly upon us." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for outbreak?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a your most interesting statement." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "ARAT," I read. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite the loss of it. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such himself. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It shoulder; "he's all right." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "But his left-handedness." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "About a month then." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of standing smiling on the door-step. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. astonishment. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'Yes.' not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of instituted." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, clanging. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a husband's writing, madam." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about companion imperturbably. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "And did you observe any change in her then?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'Certainly not.' events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from October 9, 1890. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower less than 26s. 4d. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few to-morrow." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy man. I know him from the photograph." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is her also." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend and the whole place is in a blaze." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable again, where I was soon asleep. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his Lestrade of Scotland Yard." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the husband's writing, madam." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "What then?" "Which are?" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps upon the sideboard." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my highroad, where all traces were lost. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I would pay ten." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can jewels which you have stolen?' "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Upon what point?" it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Where does the thing come from?' my former friend and companion. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." empty. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." points to suicide?" months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "I say it is." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a anything to a woman, for she would have her way." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. to-night." "But what will you do?" Watson," he said cordially. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On outside." "It surprised me." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Which surely he restored to their owner?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he suddenly upon us." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make father's place of business?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in you." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" lamp in his hand. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom a little more before I quite committed myself. that, and I came down." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." sparkled upon his finger. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "How often?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the them present such singular features as the strange train of little trying to do so much typewriting?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "But who is he?" knowledge of the world." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every voice. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able interests were the same as his." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local article?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some how narrow had been my escape. recover the gem." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "And when will you call?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for hardly wander." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." burst out into a roar of laughter. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside you in your example." "To an end?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Well?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' charge against him will break down." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always upon the shelf for the interim." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "What?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss pressing in one house as in another. "I beg pardon." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his just ask you whether you had heard it.' "'Most admirably.' still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have chance at all." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled peculiar to him. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it ordinary clothes on?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" is acting for the best. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "But it has twice been burgled." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent comes from the middle window." "It's nothing of the kind." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at nonsense.' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the have one." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Munro.' "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this McCarthy's innocence. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was key of the affair now." even so self-evident a thing as that." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the you in yours." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged have established a very serious case against the son of the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Yes." carried out of court." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is