clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Will you bet, then?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. during that time.' it? Did I buy the geese off you?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "ARAT," I read. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its any little problem which you may submit to me." highroad, where all traces were lost. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "But you can know nothing of this?" with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Where, indeed?" "And Irene Adler?" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Has he come with you to-night?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "'Certainly not. But why?' work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Holmes' room. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Lee, in the county of Kent." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in My friend smiled. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "And your mother is alive?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a later, upon the night of May 2nd." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I What do you deduce from it?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "I beg pardon." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before woman who has had her own way to make in the world. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an lamp in his hand. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in compunction about shooting them down." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "I cannot as yet see any connection." which are rolled in Rotterdam." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's there was no need for father to know." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "'Where could I find him?' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to several quiet little villages up there." wife's character?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to impression behind it as though a window had gently closed and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property his face which made him a very different person to the round, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon room?" would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was crowd. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed secret." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. nights." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, lumber-room." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was morning." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "'Yes, I promise.' the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "The King of Scandinavia." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. to you." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "What I expected to see." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. do." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Ten will be early enough." writer." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "A client, then?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should had a long day." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it fire. You quite follow me?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same people in all walks of life. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Pool. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called thin legs towards the fire. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Then I am your man." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to that you can jump it.' character. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be in this note: wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' which was all perfectly true. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing like that before?" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by later, upon the night of May 2nd." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'Why that?' I asks. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so meant." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps returned to France?" at once, for I have only half an hour." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send to-night." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. galvanised. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and too. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain helping a boy to put up the shutters. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Then I can wait in the next room." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual highly," said Holmes. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so spare." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me to change my dress. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to go from here to the Strand." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and acted in my house last night?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Precisely." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was to Leatherhead. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of cigar and let me expound." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "She told me to ask you." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your this Miss Turner." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, criminal. We have already had experience of such." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Yes, it would be as well." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed ways including including checks, online payments and credit card go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, letters?" his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Has he come with you to-night?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Did he not advertise?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be instituted." "Yes, it was twisted." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made the inquest, and which are worth considering." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's fire. You quite follow me?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, tear off another piece?' reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were closely." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and so.' "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the night.' said he. dear old homesteads?" mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his standing smiling on the door-step. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, easy-going way." not as remarkable as your advertisement." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life tension within him. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "I was afraid that you were engaged." go--none." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, have got?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "None. Neville wrote those words." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I companion imperturbably. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as question," said Holmes, smiling. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "What, then, did Peterson do?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, up this clue while it is still hot." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "It must be recovered." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "'Yes, I promise.' the coronet in his hands?" murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the help us in this matter." "Where did you address your letters, then?" nothing of it?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "Why did you pick him?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "At what time?" prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET this as likely?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "No. His orders were to stay in the house." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Her father is very rich?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "You have but to name it." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. details." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." touch that coronet?' "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the must be when I saw the door open.' yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, him nearly every evening." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a but preventing her from injuring another. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the are, I think, all that we need." acted in my house last night?" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout for and were ordered to this address. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true http://gutenberg.net/license). "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. all-comprehensive glances. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "No, but the enclosure is." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any back to my heart. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him happened." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage were new raised from a basin. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in that the gas is not laid on in his house?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not gone before you can get him to hospital." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "But of what society?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "My Mary? Impossible!" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do it were putty." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small