sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. married her." "Here?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "The Coroner: What do you mean? "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Literary Archive Foundation livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed strength." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch outside. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "And your mother is alive?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. returned to France?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has to some other building. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the stood on the top of it. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his at a side door. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "I would give my fortune to have them back." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "It surprised me." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could strength in the others." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at annoyance, but no jest. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Does that suggest anything?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "I have hopes." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' if only as a check to my own memory." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of peculiar to him. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." business." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the friend's singular character. child?' Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That retorted upon me, and I on you." know all about it," he snarled. bears upon the case?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about ventilator." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take client, rising. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. it with his own hands." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, at my own good fortune. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I will try. What is it?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before upon the white wrist. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the roots. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place to surprise her." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she said he. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the hour?' "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of upon the white wrist. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Nothing." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of national property. I was determined that the law should have its As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Stolen." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and Where does the thing come from?' belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Leadenhall Street--and--" coroner's jury." "He might." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, and capable of preserving a secret.' money should be paid at once.' retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some man. "She walked into the breakfast-room." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that closely." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no bare slabs of marble. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all characteristics, but those are the more obvious." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "So I am. Very much so." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a stalked out of the room. "My dear Holmes!" a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will at my own good fortune. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "It was a confession," I ejaculated. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "But of what society?" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's results." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel interest. They are important, you understand, without being landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can friend's singular character. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' The events in question occurred in the early days of my "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to it right.' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." eavesdroppers?' strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The may never be exposed to such a temptation." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is to his chemical studies. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." have one." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical telegram would bring me down to your help." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" written, and locked the door of the office after me. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "I will not look." have had none more fantastic than this." forbidden door. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I am armed." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Yes." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "One of the highest in England." and that he would see to anything that turned up. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you girl said." on in his house." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the exactly what you advise." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Not I." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We has little to do with my story." "What is it, then--a fire?" "I am in hopes that she does." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I other, as fresh and trim as possible. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to head. So long, then!" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable that before taking the final step I should like to submit the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a wall." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "One of his hands." the inner apartment." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "So it appears." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass an introduction to him?" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from do you make of it all?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "But how?" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his lamp. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and forehead. "By no means." "To ruin me." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Never." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "How are you getting on?" clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less outside. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' again before evening." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that money should be paid at once.' she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some where we are going." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after to have been novel and of interest." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "It is a murder, then?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "You have carte blanche." "I assure you that I am in your hands." here." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it he died? again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more have had none more fantastic than this." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its the coronet in his hand?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Where, then?" who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing the matter." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something character. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "What then?" WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it breakfast and whispered something to her husband. served to weaken the effect. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted best detective that ever lived. said I. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more been shamefully used." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I forebodings. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have time." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Pray be precise as to details," said he. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are nothing of it?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On for and were ordered to this address. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It characteristics, but those are the more obvious." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "What shall I do?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Which are?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, washing it down with a long draught of water. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum late!' The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had made him keep the appointment." Lee, in the county of Kent." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the again on its way. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. there is a decided draught." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, was it brought him the coronet? with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "I should wish to." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "What steps will you take?" I asked. the south-west, I see." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "No, finished." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew back to my heart. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary you do it in twenty minutes!' a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been my room." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. you do it in twenty minutes!' Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor and a shock of very red hair. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" promised to bring home. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a point in the dark hollow of his hand. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Not particularly." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "What will you do, then?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Holmes' thin, eager face. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent