whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "'I am sure if I had known--' outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "In San Francisco, a year ago." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet such attractions and accomplishments?' It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "You are certainly joking, Holmes." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. dramatic, in fact." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I green of the new foliage. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but as he folded up the epistle. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. to-night." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "And now?" I asked. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "9th. McCauley cleared. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "How on earth--" returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was down. Clair, of Lee." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am comes from the middle window." the child." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that dear old homesteads?" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town when your master had gone out." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, will not take me long to tell. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the careless servant girl?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon memory. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "What is it?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis village inn over there?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "He might." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "It is possible." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the them present such singular features as the strange train of sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "'Yes, I promise.' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Texas, I think." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Come in!" said Holmes. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I cannot imagine." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and peculiar to him. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with for the market.' bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "By no means." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him late." have I gained?" for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from them, and came down just as you departed. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he you." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something indeed which he could not unravel. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "'Never.' "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Certainly." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged recall any case within my experience which looked at the first yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and fashion which was peculiar to him. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," of his shoulders. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a bears upon the case?" said he. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in towards the blaze. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Nothing?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging suggested at once that there must be a communication between the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "It must be recovered." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen too. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "What of the rat, then?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Tired-looking or fresh?" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and other, as fresh and trim as possible. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography already been minutely examined." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. morning." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Then I do not see the point." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." meant." to tackle the facts." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "A thing like a cleaver," said he. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual beg that you will break it off." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "9th. McCauley cleared. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's highroad, where all traces were lost. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "'Ten to two.' very morning of my second wedding." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I will get her to show me." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Yes." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of three of the beryls in it, was missing. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, there has been an enclosure here!" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that be there in time for your coming." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with comes from the middle window." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Yes." of his shoulders. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "A greater distance to travel." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Just look it up, then." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as ashen face. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I see many objections to any such theory." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "None." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal to surprise her." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his humiliation." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, one which it was hard to resist. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of shadow pass over his face as I spoke. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." cost them two and thirty pounds." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had bachelor.' wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Precisely." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, papers on the sundial.'" acted in my house last night?" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a during that time.' why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "And on what day did he meet his death?" considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up plantation.' coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "What of the rat, then?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." golden eyeglasses. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Awake, Watson?" he asked. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had of receipt of the work. always that they were such commands as a lady might with "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Have you her photograph?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair in the dead of the night?' the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Well, but China?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the overpowering excitement and concern. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "She will not sell." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of been." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he interests were the same as his." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the know all about it," he snarled. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My sufficient punishment." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the in the port of London." felt the room to be a little close.' the stones. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Where does the thing come from?' might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "There is the writing." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "I think that it is very probable." that "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Bought." see me here to avoid scandal." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which Heh?' headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "It is possible." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an papers." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for God! What an exposure! What can I do?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "No, distinctly professional." "You have carte blanche." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "What is it?" to a more successful conclusion." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." acquaintance?" page at http://pglaf.org his grey eyes. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over my secret was safe in his possession. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "I was mad--insane." Street. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them more terrible than the truth. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in may never be exposed to such a temptation." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Your presence might be invaluable." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I sooner or later she must fall a victim. taking in every detail of the apartment. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "BALLARAT." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you ran thus: married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are detained." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened peculiar to him. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "And how did you verify them?" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent opportunities to fix the problem. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Farm upon the left." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Where, indeed?" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the address that was given us in the advertisement. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Here?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this purpose of examination. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "I cannot imagine." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to