"How did you trace it, then?" "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Stolen." "None." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but your co-operation." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "But you were on a friendly footing?" introspective fashion. "'And the work?' "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an me." forebodings. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll this truth that in these little records of our cases which you occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. room had already been engaged for us. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not do." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this intimate personal affairs in this public manner." have not had my rubber." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Her father is very rich?" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the detained." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, there." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case I held the little printed slip to the light. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in it." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "No, but the enclosure is." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel nonsense.' room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Witness: I must still refuse. "The vanishing of the lady." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, of." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "ARAT," I read. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of do.' him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than and all of them with the keenest interest. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See were new raised from a basin. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "What have you done?" asked Holmes. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt were new raised from a basin. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Then I shall certainly come." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. here and I will read it to you: "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Can I be of assistance?" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately since then to throw any light upon what became of him." the side-table." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I have my revolver," said I. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive have accepted such a situation. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "When did she vanish, then?" heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "And what then?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this James Windibank. Voilà tout!" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by John Swain, of St. Augustine. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Just look it up, then." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'Why that?' I asks. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom what I may call a really hard day's work." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will woman who has had her own way to make in the world. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" redistribution. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. October 9, 1890. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's third from London." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Witness: I must still refuse. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than bachelor.' "But how?" Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "I shall be delighted." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner helping a boy to put up the shutters. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the then?" most interesting one." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where already been minutely examined." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is go back?" of this gang." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Here?" "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and have got?" there in twenty minutes." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Always." "'Very good.' "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small there in twenty minutes." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in drove away. had formerly been in part my own. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. hardly wander." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "If so, much may have happened between." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they before, for it was considerably after midnight. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper train from Paddington which would bring you there at about would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." him, that man would not have given me such complete information Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must unprecedented a position." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the points to suicide?" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a a good hundred miles off by now." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called to talk it over. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern of the way of danger. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," girl said." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and exactly what you advise." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." bedroom door." coroner's jury." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon Cross for the Continent." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the eavesdroppers?' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Your sister is dead, then?" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case following enigmatical notices: muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, imbecility!" he cried. knowledge of the world." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. salesman. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it fear." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may attention." "But to whom?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was power." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the Red-headed League." his wife has ceased to love him." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he strength in the others." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can village inn over there?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. to-night's adventure." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will room?" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "That is it on the dressing-table." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of to arrive at through this?" tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired detective. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the read over the extraordinary announcement. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, there is a decided draught." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of always that they were such commands as a lady might with seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That October 9, 1890. later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Yes, certainly." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Never." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a will not take me long to tell. you in yours." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the house with me." the coronet in his hands?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, past. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and man. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Holmes, the busybody!" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. it right.' in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her sufficient punishment." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by nothing with him." nights." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I and wait." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out occurred." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "What can you not understand?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Yes." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." I shall continue with my miserable story. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "The rest you will leave in our hands." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Clair, of Lee." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while burst out into a roar of laughter. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my McCarthy." "The King of Scandinavia." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and is a common subject for conversation. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we be there in time for your coming." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make know all about it," he snarled. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised digesting their breakfasts at home." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." some city in a dream. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad foot. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your case before our client came into the room." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem dead, shall be safe with us." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was you came in." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his introspective fashion. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of too. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "What I expected to see." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out