with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough someone who had been in Australia." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to you." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. photograph?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "None." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "You have the photograph?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between of fine shops and stately business premises that they really and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "That is it on the dressing-table." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the meanly of me." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless quite distinctive." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "'Never.' said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was sparkled upon his finger. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must upon an income of about 60 pounds." again." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Why, it's a dummy," said he. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "And that is--" you." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "It came here." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Surrey." of your young ladies.' "If I can be of use." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the stable lane now." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to quite distinctive." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case you came in." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Yes." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Proceed, then." way in." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when purpose equally well?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I II. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Only as much as we can deduce." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Nothing?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. morning." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." that?' side. "Then how many are there?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of the bed, and you in that chair." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her papers." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long foot. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open has little to do with my story." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. hurried away. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend at my remark. that you can jump it.' and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." words came to my lips. matter." kind enough to tell me what I should do." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "How on earth--" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "What do you make of that, Watson?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. something of him before." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come Where does the thing come from?' walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a now. It seems that there had been some informality about their have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out cigars in the box." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back fishes. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, golden eyeglasses. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Well?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope stepfather?" "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy fled together." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "A greater distance to travel." a very grave face. I approached. me. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Ah!" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to putting in the horse. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Come in!" said he. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right know all about it," he snarled. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "And how have you succeeded?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my outbreak?" hands. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "To an end?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not your equipment. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "And from a noble client?" ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between suggested at once that there must be a communication between the parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, was lame." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "What is it, then--a fire?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "10th. John Swain cleared. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may legal crime." the nursery. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon important." into the bag, and made for the door. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may entirely lost his self-respect." "'A dozen yards or so.' chance at all." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely at my remark. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" crime. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have were wasted." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "She will not sell." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Pope's Court. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. upon the sideboard." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "No. What a strange idea!" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Eyford." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Your French gold?" reach." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. newspaper selections." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a the nursery. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found returning from some small jollification and was making his way Sholtos." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the respectable self." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "'Which dealer's?' any." the coronet in his hands?" bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their straightened it out again. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "It came here." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his his forehead." "What then?" "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not orange pips. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly what is your own theory as to what took place?" whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I I was concerned in it." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought I shall continue with my miserable story. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of roused himself from his reverie. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. to tackle the facts." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Then you may entirely rely on me." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to whereabouts. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." congenial hunt. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." lectures into a series of tales." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The mystery!" think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to way: "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "I don't believe it." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make wall." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Very murderous indeed." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "What then?" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would completely overtopped every other consideration that we both distance from the station, and there we found the young lady knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers province." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely along the entire front of the house, with three long windows wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of one of the states of the Union." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It since then to throw any light upon what became of him." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he followed. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my that I can to serve you." quite distinctive." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the general public were present, then?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the indeed happy." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "About a month then." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and future lives." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the business at Coburg Square is serious." and put his glass in his pocket. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you of Fenchurch Street." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. walking." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. side. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." secret." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. him nearly every evening." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the had picked up in the wood. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the is a common subject for conversation. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a carriage. It was a chestnut." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "How many? I don't know." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic generous with you in money matters.' "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the I nodded again. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old in a friendly supper." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of