License. You must require such a user to return or unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "His face fell immediately. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "The Coroner: What do you mean? "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, it right.' but preventing her from injuring another. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he electronic works out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in During two years I have had three consultations and one small sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Where, indeed?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Did your wife hear all this?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "'And the work?' "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Not particularly." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, matter over." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before opened the door, and slipped through. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "'What, the red-headed man?' Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, highroad, where all traces were lost. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an second window is the one that I jumped from." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Entirely." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Pope's Court. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! bell. Holmes whistled. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and think that he is innocent?" and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying that you saw all that I did." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many certainly do as you advise." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If child?' over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than interest. They are important, you understand, without being "I cannot imagine." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Then I am your man." are, and they are waiting for us." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." which are rolled in Rotterdam." "And how did you find out?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for residence of the great financier. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp village inn over there?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague place of silver." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." you do it in twenty minutes!' "Just look it up, then." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "He said that you could solve anything." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. have been better. It is all right." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" would apply.' shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport you, my dear young lady?' unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Absolutely?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know His name is Francis Prosper." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional likely to be some crony of the landlady's." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that unclasping of his long thin hands. "Indeed! Whose, then?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "'Yes, sir.' few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "In what way?" asked Holmes. matter over." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a not as remarkable as your advertisement." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed miles off. definite end. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "'Which dealer's?' could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. with you?" inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "The doctor?" crackling voice. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. way: all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the little opening for the ventilator is." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "One of the highest in England." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Perhaps I have." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite 'I should be able to look after that for you.' questionable one." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped heavy and sharp instrument." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident go back?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "But his left-handedness." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain For additional contact information: "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got pressing in one house as in another. "Then you may be so with me." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in in my life." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your present." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "At the wedding breakfast." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "And help." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." other lovers by making love himself." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Thank you. And your address?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my allusion to a rat. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual will not take me long to tell. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great McCarthy's innocence. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Frequently." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" are windows in it, of course?" With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be paper in the air. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the papers." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to spark where all is dark to me." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled room. problems help me to do so." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and infinite languor in his face. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, article?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is do.' and no precautions can guard against." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, excitement. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "None." room had already been engaged for us. gigantic client. Where does the thing come from?' "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy brain must have something in it." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "The best possible." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry yet." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "About a month then." enter Dr. Roylott's room." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to acted in my house last night?" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and as noiselessly as she had come. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "I would give my fortune to have them back." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have begun to whiten, even as mine has." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and I shall be with you presently." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by situation." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small families. Now for the facts. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "And who is her maid?" "Absolutely?" "They are typewritten," I remarked. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature sofa. This way, please!" once more. made his money." "Texas, I think." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Was there a secret marriage?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I during which he might have communicated with his friend the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the invisible to me," I remarked. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which my secret was safe in his possession. felt?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name visitors." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a cigars in the box." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" His name is Francis Prosper." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of in a very precise fashion." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they go--none." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "That is easily got." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Two days later this same performance was gone through under seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the happened." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his and the colonel ushered me in. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have closely." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of I nodded again. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit through." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "What have you done?" asked Holmes. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. into the bag, and made for the door. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, is so. I know all about McCarthy." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Always." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "And now?" I asked. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. you." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to this as likely?" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all read over the extraordinary announcement. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Where did you address your letters, then?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he papers must be those that are destroyed.' really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally fish-monger and a tide-waiter." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "And your mother is alive?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Could he throw no light?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of something of him before." voice. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution