bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Entirely." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's to you." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary room. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black now. It seems that there had been some informality about their morning." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Yes." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Whose house is it?" "And sit in the dark?" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is simple cases which are so extremely difficult." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "One of his hands." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is from you?" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he so far?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those already referred to. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through call for protection in the marriage market, for the present now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite or in danger--" approach us with offers to donate. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We brandy and water within his reach. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and you for a few hours?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang hardly wander." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many leave you to your papers for a little." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the bottom.' will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "I cannot say that I have." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "That is unusual in a young girl." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have delighted to hear it," he said. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you clang of the bell. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in the devil!" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I triumphant cloud from his cigarette. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." get the tickets." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the driver. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "And Irene Adler?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she your bag." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just time." "I cannot imagine." than was visible to me." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook he bowed and left the room without another word. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the was shining brightly. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "And why?" "What I expected to see." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, my little problems." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" interested in these little problems, and since you are good like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "It surprised me." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not to-night's adventure." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his see a sister of mine apply for." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "'Why that?' I asks. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or to affect your life." "But of what society?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and if only as a check to my own memory." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The hardly wander." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened the coronet in his hands?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "No, but the enclosure is." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, with the outside air!" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." helping a boy to put up the shutters. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Certainly." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind like gravel from a pit.' dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen strong reason behind." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager *** START: FULL LICENSE *** town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "No. What a strange idea!" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was made his money." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "That is easily got." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Did you observe the colour?" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Could he throw no light?" "It surprised me." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended like gravel from a pit.' and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "'Is purely nominal.' other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, http://www.gutenberg.net left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been lips." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "On your arm?" brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Yes, only one." "No, I think that I'll take it." "Your sister is dead, then?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the one of the states of the Union." said Mr. Holder. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" within hail.' As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough until night should bring an explanation. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" strong and stiff." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Eyford at 11:15.' his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon standing smiling on the door-step. "Absolutely?" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions all-comprehensive glances. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. evidence," I remarked. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "How are you getting on?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" thought that she would have been so carried away." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever it right.' "Yes." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: south, for the country is more deserted there." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "I am all attention, madam." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." held up the lantern and gazed about him. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt guilty parties." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his giving me time to thank him. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father shoulder. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Cross for the Continent." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the overpowering excitement and concern. them present such singular features as the strange train of aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six depend upon my doing so.' threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the window, rose as we entered. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a already been minutely examined." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "He is dead," cried several voices. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Where does the thing come from?' The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "I guessed as much." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his hardly wander." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and of your young ladies.' I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "I would pay ten." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left the coronet in his hands?" "Then I can wait in the next room." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton vague figure huddled up in the darkness. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to morning." off." "To ruin me." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the call for it in person on Monday morning.' in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired green of the new foliage. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and some mystery and the punishment of some crime." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two business at Coburg Square is serious." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. coat-tails." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Yes." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "No, I had a dozen." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the answered with a sidelong glance. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Holmes' thin, eager face. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I will, Miss Turner." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, photograph?" "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it bell. Holmes whistled. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed it." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his ashen face. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't strong and stiff." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and do.' introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to outsides of the windows. interested in these little problems, and since you are good ceremony." "Dr. Becher's." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." 1.F. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa little trying to do so much typewriting?" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have forebodings. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?"