them?" "And it is--" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he nice household for a young lady." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both man. I know him from the photograph." "Stolen, then." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, a monotonous occupation." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Eh? What was that?" cost them two and thirty pounds." "I am to be neutral?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my business in the City. She little knew what. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be could not have written that. It is the German who is so "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque cause to be." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away entirely lost his self-respect." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "No legal papers or certificates?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Not in the least." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands already been minutely examined." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I the best of training." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Your French gold?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and kindly on the shoulder. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "'Then let me do so?' without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "He disappeared so suddenly." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that later, upon the night of May 2nd." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "But what is it you wish?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." seen the man in the road." "Not particularly." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Certainly." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Yes." individual and becomes the badge of a society." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. to some other building. "I cannot tell." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I memory. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a situation." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "It was an hour's good drive." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and have this put in the evening papers." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in of fine shops and stately business premises that they really typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business what do you think they found in the pockets?" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Yes." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step visitors." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Have you her photograph?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "'Entirely.' really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in room had already been engaged for us. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the little opening for the ventilator is." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it DAMAGE. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "I will try. What is it?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "No." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She beg that you will break it off." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I there in twenty minutes." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be corner of the building. "And now?" He raised his hand. "Then I am your man." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" wedding?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee your only hope of safety." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "I will not look." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "No more words. Get out!" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Yes, but only for you and me." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over where she found matters as described by the last witness. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "I cannot think." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. you for a few hours?" "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider him. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "This concluded the examination of the witness." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "You have the photograph?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the asked. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Deserted you?" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the chance." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the recover the gem." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the see me here to avoid scandal." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up if only as a check to my own memory." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite remarked. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the said I. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "'It is locked up,' I answered. green of the new foliage. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair in him." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the fled together." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having with some details as to your case." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is DAMAGE. McCarthy." "I cannot as yet see any connection." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Yes." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "It is his hat." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard done what I asked you, Jones?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is chair. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the lamp in his hand. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my unclasping of his long thin hands. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers forebodings. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work fear." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We or other trace. But how on earth--" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is is a common subject for conversation. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. you understand?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "It must be recovered." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but The telegram which we eventually received came late one night together. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. out." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be knowledge of the world." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet fattened it expressly for you.' doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal pressing in one house as in another. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my fatally injured? "Do you know him?" shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "And how have you succeeded?" of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in was it brought him the coronet? England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to this unhappy family?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "I would give my fortune to have them back." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly what these perils are?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "'I shall certainly be there.' "Not in a good cause." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "And what then?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he know all about it," he snarled. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other American. Then who could this American be, and why should he the inner apartment." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "I am about to be married." weary and pale-looking. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to not as remarkable as your advertisement." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "And on what day did he meet his death?" been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly touch that coronet?' felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then with the outside air!" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "I am to be neutral?" the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. one which it was hard to resist. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Holmes." might have a private word with us. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded more solid." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "You have carte blanche." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. My friend smiled. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "But of what society?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Not social, then?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Look there!" said he. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked happened." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon,