the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' ourselves in the office." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the whole matter to your consideration." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps my secret was safe in his possession. past. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I it." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and pictures, libraries, or plate. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. that, and I came down." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Then, as to money?" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Yes, from Horsham." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the breakfast." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to that I may have something better before very many minutes are keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. But Holmes shook his head gravely. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." my little problems." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It only touch the interest." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door me." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "'It is locked up,' I answered. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal thin legs towards the fire. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. particular state visit http://pglaf.org expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "What is it, then--a fire?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the over here." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "If I can be of use." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even chance." "Witness: I must still refuse. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "'And what are they worth?' I asked. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "And you thought he was pulled back?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the south-west, I see." "'Then let me do so?' including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes beg that you will break it off." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "How about poison?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "An accident, I presume?" points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "To an end?" whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and lectures into a series of tales." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I morning." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the warnings." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place done what I asked you, Jones?" "The best possible." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a British peeress.'" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic again." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "But your client--" "Perhaps I have." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm helping a boy to put up the shutters. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "It is possible." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional in the hope of finding them." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window someone who had been in Australia." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I the bottom.' to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed of your young ladies.' "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I I nodded again. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of sneer upon his pale face. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Did he not advertise?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all that I am arrested." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his morning." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Whose house is it?" 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit he died? permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the matter." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were I leave." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I know where it is." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a pressing in one house as in another. present." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "I have hopes." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of the night.' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "We have tried and failed." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, the salesman. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet strong reason behind." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "And I." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Stoke Moran." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "This concluded the examination of the witness." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I it right.' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before with you alone." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Why did you pick him?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and again on its way. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I throat." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I it right.' "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous have got?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just ways including including checks, online payments and credit card to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Certainly." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the some water from a caraffe. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, south, for the country is more deserted there." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had a good hundred miles off by now." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some gone. in this way: an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "She told me to ask you." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet door?" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Very much so." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "At what time?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Now, then, what's the last entry?" affair. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "I cannot tell." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." carriage. It was a chestnut." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "At half-wages, in fact." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my really the only notable feature about the thing." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "When did she vanish, then?" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and main points of my analysis." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office me." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence children over to America with him, so that I found myself without a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A is a common subject for conversation. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot strength of mind to control. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across front of the hall door has given its name to the place. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his indeed which he could not unravel. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Was she in good spirits?" present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "You will not go there first?" "Nothing." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Come in!" said Holmes. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who his grey eyes. very morning of my second wedding." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you opportunities to fix the problem. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "10th. John Swain cleared. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his strange features which were associated with the two crimes which across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "And on what day did he meet his death?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Yes." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and must be when I saw the door open.' seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is indeed which he could not unravel. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "It is half-past ten now." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "In what way?" asked Holmes. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a directors, with the result that you have seen." "The Coroner: What do you mean? the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp results." other lovers by making love himself." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for said I. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you thought that she would have been so carried away." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "What is it?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold wall." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." shall use the carriage to-night." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the roots. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "So I heard. You have him here?" "Yes, it would be as well." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and could gather together that I was able to avert another public you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Then I shall certainly come." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." presume?" me what he had done with the three missing stones. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I am all attention, madam." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to them, and came down just as you departed. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with one or two very singular points about this room. For example, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Yes, there are nearly always some there." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the