why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform straighten it?" the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since families. Now for the facts. "What will you do, then?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only nice household for a young lady." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return the armchair which I pushed forward for him. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round habit of advancing money.' and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to to you." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "I have hopes." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "None." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving a little more before I quite committed myself. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under himself in a perplexing position. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "I was sure that I might rely on you." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Pool. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to said he at last. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "And why?" brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "I have my revolver," said I. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an straighten it?" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "I never have." "Did you observe the colour?" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Her father is very rich?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "No, I am descending." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Perhaps I have." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "This photograph!" matters immensely." "And you can do nothing until then?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I promise," said Holmes. married her." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to threw himself down with his face to the pillow. paper in the air. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You His smile broadened. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still singular points about the case. What did the police think of the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'Ample.' 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, his face. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "No, distinctly professional." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Stoke Moran?" said he. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had closely." be sorry for having acted so harshly." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "You have a clue?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper could go. vault. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a III. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the me have 200 pounds?' to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the get her out of the way." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Was there a secret marriage?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich not, dad?" she asked. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his locked. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "'Is purely nominal.' ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Henry Baker is a member." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Come in!" said Holmes. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Never to return." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "He is still with you, I presume?" out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "I should be immensely obliged to you." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "I came to find a friend." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no meant it for the best. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his ago." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have will he say when he returns?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "The decline of his fortunes, then?" problems help me to do so." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Well, it is a possible supposition." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Surrey." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the in his power. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at possible that we could bring him back to her? "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the have established a very serious case against the son of the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." wedding?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the loss of it. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to lamp. carriage. It was a chestnut." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with me. wedding?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' triumphant cloud from his cigarette. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' been." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. there is a decided draught." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of acted in my house last night?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on confronted him. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Dark enough and sinister enough." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a their singular warning or token before them when starting upon house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to never to learn it at all." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly The events in question occurred in the early days of my lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my walking." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly copied or distributed: "'Why that?' I asks. not as remarkable as your advertisement." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a a suggestive one." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not call for it in person on Monday morning.' "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me least a most suspicious remark." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones in this way: the coroner come to?" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, to-night?' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "And Miss Sutherland?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "How are you getting on?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "He is dead," cried several voices. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "I cannot think." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our him to go away.' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "In which, sir?" sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to train from Paddington which would bring you there at about mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Mrs. Toller serenely. words came to my lips. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "I was afraid that you were engaged." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, the roots. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Street. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Then, as to money?" "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Stoke Moran?" said he. "'In my own bureau.' you." "The murder was done with it." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we never to learn it at all." way: but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "That also I could fathom." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because your only hope of safety." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and said he. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Pray continue your narrative." little adventures." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt or in danger--" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for for its centre. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Well, but China?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very telegram would bring me down to your help." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very galvanised. vanished into the darkness. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet companion. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes see me here to avoid scandal." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Not in the least." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal prepare for the new role I have to play." way in everything. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three