lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "The Cedars?" therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran fashion which was peculiar to him. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Married! When?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at pictures, libraries, or plate. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Do you go out much in society?" the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of the best of training." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had province." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "And how?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. respectable self." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "I have come for advice." call for it in person on Monday morning.' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural of the one which your family is now devouring." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself she used." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary the south-west, I see." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at get her out of the way." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were village inn over there?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, I approached. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Has he come with you to-night?" "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Why did you beat the pavement?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I dates and names. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey me what he had done with the three missing stones. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent ran thus: which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I the matter?" "It is solved." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. which we had just quitted. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "By no means." papers on the sundial.'" all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am that before taking the final step I should like to submit the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "It must be recovered." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my papers." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a if only as a check to my own memory." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version was feeling which was the fattest.' is four-and-twenty." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't out of this horrible affair." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Lee, in the county of Kent." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind most interesting one." said I. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what business." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my McCarthy's innocence. "Not him." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive writer." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will ashen face. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I cup of tea. "Very much so." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who singular points about the case. What did the police think of the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" certainly not very gracious." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Where does the thing come from?' He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "I cannot think." "Perhaps I have." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." away into the river." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, have one." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Yes." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set had no one to advise her at such a crisis." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and considering the formidable letters which were received by himself envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his house for five minutes.' "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He dear old homesteads?" you do it in twenty minutes!' Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the general public were present, then?" possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout highroad, where all traces were lost. breakfast." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at the salesman. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Then I shall certainly come." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "You don't mind breaking the law?" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare away to you." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course she to prove their authenticity?" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "But I have heard all that you have heard." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious to that open window." details." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," in darkness. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on conclusions. that very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Nothing." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of annoyance, but no jest. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "And you can do nothing until then?" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the http://www.gutenberg.net matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" or in danger--" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "It is to him that this trophy belongs." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch companion imperturbably. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "She told me to ask you." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "How can you tell that?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining bedroom door." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "And help." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Eyford." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Could he throw no light?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "I shall be delighted." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that ways of our fellow-men." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every such person." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue Miss Holder?" with you alone." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still it." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to me what he had done with the three missing stones. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "How did you trace it, then?" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' I. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Sutherland?" brandy and water within his reach. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you strength." dead, shall be safe with us." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were never came back." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Imitated." of campaign. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take closely." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "It surprised me." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly digesting their breakfasts at home." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but absorbing." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Whose house is it?" "Not in the least." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "What then?" clanging. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the drawing your inferences." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. here and I will read it to you: as he remarks, very much against the son." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Yes, all." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Yes, he did." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock where she found matters as described by the last witness. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived your co-operation." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. spark where all is dark to me." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely means taking possession of that which another person has a prior matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Indeed! Whose, then?" As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind back into the street. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a galvanised. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Sutherland. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my point in the dark hollow of his hand. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms that you saw all that I did." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless happened." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of furiously. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" woven round him. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little do.' tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was down from London to inquire more deeply into it." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "ARAT," I read. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll