"I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I assure you that I am in your hands." "I should wish to." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Nothing?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. that, and I came down." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens it." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was should be so warm over such a trifle." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "No, my brougham is waiting." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. records." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the warnings." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Sutherland. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I am still in the dark." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be License. You must require such a user to return or "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Did your wife hear all this?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined he bowed and left the room without another word. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their an introduction to him?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily unclasping of his long thin hands. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and the very morning of the wedding." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was it right.' many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "How did that help you?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for through." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of arms and began to sob in a high treble key. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round this remarkable episode. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when your billet.' prisoner's face. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture believe that I should never have any practice at all. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's woman." fashion which was peculiar to him. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite started for the Temple to see my husband. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of in my life." someone who had been in Australia." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "You will not go there first?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away where we are going." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and purpose equally well?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. I shall continue with my miserable story. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "What can it mean?" I gasped. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush memory. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with you found me to-night--and running through the front room she offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have I am not easy in my mind about them." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his http://www.gutenberg.net dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found their singular warning or token before them when starting upon nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to my friend's incisive reasoning. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, golden eyeglasses. answered with a sidelong glance. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by lectures into a series of tales." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself in this note: Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was not fit the lock." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new guilty parties." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually place, I think that there is good ground to think that the that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the other lovers by making love himself." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me better in every way that they should make their position a little there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "BALLARAT." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "What! You do not mean bodies?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that these bleak autumnal evenings." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from business." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been constraint." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in fishes. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Who was the criminal, then?" hardly wander." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here weapon." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "The vanishing of the lady." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what believe that I should never have any practice at all. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Then what has happened to him?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, unprecedented a position." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' there is a decided draught." "Whose house is it?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white present." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet skylight. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so behind me. sooner or later she must fall a victim. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the cause to be." see me here to avoid scandal." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that have not had my rubber." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and a very grave face. helping a boy to put up the shutters. "One of the highest in England." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these occurred." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I your Highness to the police-station?" dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend the address that was given us in the advertisement. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains a monotonous occupation." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "He disappeared so suddenly." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door yet." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "No, I am descending." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Stolen, then." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET Chief Executive and Director voice. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich to tackle the facts." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from it were putty." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted bonnet, and went out." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From danger is over." time." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "'In my own bureau.' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "'I am sure if I had known--' owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are posted to-day." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of married her." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, went to the Alpha were town bred." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the nights." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We his grey eyes. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our heavily into it. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. tell them apart.' work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "I say that I have solved it." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light danger is over." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. works. See paragraph 1.E below. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and and capable of preserving a secret.' "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second have I gained?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Sutherland. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated go--none." round with crates and massive boxes. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "I am following you closely," I answered. Miss Holder?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "I see no marks." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "What, then?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "At the wedding breakfast." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in room. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "'What do you call purely nominal?' "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "You were travelling in the States?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to gone. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally triumphant cloud from his cigarette. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his relation between them, and what the object of his repeated hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "And why?" "And for present expenses?" all?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to examine." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm said I. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "There is the writing." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in already referred to. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side people don't know." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "I assure you that I am in your hands." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "What then?" six. Come in!" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of to-night." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Yes, it would be as well." be sorry for having acted so harshly." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had wanted for ourselves." amused." take the flies, but not before." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when appeared upon the scene." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had lamp. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and so far?" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "And it is--" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood take the flies, but not before." your bag." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be are windows in it, of course?" object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for mystery may be cleared along those lines." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Deserted you?" "And why?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "How did that help you?" "No, I think that I'll take it." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The