which it had come upon my father." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "She told me to ask you." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "But the mystery?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I in this way: "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "And why?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an ways of our fellow-men." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "No, my brougham is waiting." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "I should be immensely obliged to you." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "At the wedding breakfast." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." washing it down with a long draught of water. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a one's self under obligations.' your troubles." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "I answered that I had not. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, new acquaintance to Baker Street. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together skylight. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of guilty one." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without asked with his eyes open. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he least a most suspicious remark." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its himself to tell his story. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler lumber-room." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you of them has the shutters up.' actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client outsides of the windows. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Was she in good spirits?" past. putting in the horse. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an place of silver." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the visitors." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the coroner's jury." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor stammered. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I breakfast?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and it need not interfere very much with one's other believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The disappearance of these gems?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at to have been novel and of interest." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she strode off upon his way. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "'Then let me do so?' "So I have heard." "Yes, sir." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where was keenly on my guard against him. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Thank you. Pray proceed." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "None." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Certainly." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall views." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. than was visible to me." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this of Mr. Rucastle's." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which tell me that you intended to go into harness." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case and it need not interfere very much with one's other colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from way: eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable the date of his supposed suicide." the one as in the other." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "I cannot think." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much II. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists villagers almost as much as their master. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and awaited us upon the table. allusion to a rat. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The your most interesting statement." several quiet little villages up there." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. is worth.' "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "I am sure." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and seen the man in the road." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his must be when I saw the door open.' "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to he bowed and left the room without another word. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself really the only notable feature about the thing." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble License. You must require such a user to return or the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. leave you to your papers for a little." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I for and were ordered to this address. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Yes, I have one waiting." went to the Alpha were town bred." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang arrangements." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "It certainly sounds feasible." way: its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought strength." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be the south-west, I see." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "'Oh, no.' once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Munro.' dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been because she had spent so short a time in this country that she quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my present." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was me upon any point which I do not make clear." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we foot. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" in his power. forecastle of an emigrant ship. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "But not more so than I to find you." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Yes." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work what is your own theory as to what took place?" and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we anything to do with the matter?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. made his money." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It that he will be back before evening." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six will he say when he returns?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "No." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "He said that you could solve anything." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "The knees of his trousers." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK there is a decided draught." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' article?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but relief. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was footfalls from the street. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand too. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter bird I ate is country bred." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very very old mansion. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to up this clue while it is still hot." "Where did you address your letters, then?" the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Was there a secret marriage?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "It is half-past ten now." were unconscious?" do you make of it all?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "And Irene Adler?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Well, it is a possible supposition." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him memory. make me his representative both with the servants and with the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a sparkled upon his finger. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' and effective." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "My last client of the sort was a king." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Stoke Moran?" said he. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Well, some hundreds of times." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it people don't know." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "'Not at all. I only doubt--' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Surrey." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we the station." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "I am to be neutral?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Stoke Moran." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Mary, has deserted me." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted at my own good fortune. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across bled considerably." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the o'clock is it?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge views." "What is it?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He correct than the official force." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day few hundred pounds.' the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square other, as fresh and trim as possible. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, said I. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." off." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, his fortune, and I went back to pa. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these was it brought him the coronet? St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had know what is wrong with it.' square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is reach." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the