what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in tell me that you intended to go into harness." appeared upon the scene." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the of campaign. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." know that the truth is known." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by you in your example." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Whose house is it?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, with the outside air!" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Really! You surprise me." "And now?" I asked. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "That is easily got." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed cause to be." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: to change my dress. "I will, Miss Turner." to a light-house. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Upon what point?" clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I if only as a check to my own memory." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "By train from Waterloo." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then entirely lost his self-respect." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the man. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were useful material for showing traces. The double line a little very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly giving me time to thank him. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, garden below. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "And for present expenses?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the more terrible than the truth. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the dangers which encompass me." how narrow had been my escape. "My dear Holmes!" that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave so.' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Entirely." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with III. society." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "My Mary? Impossible!" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Yes, I have one waiting." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "'You cannot say what it was?' "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" then?" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into http://gutenberg.net/license). should be so warm over such a trifle." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then said he. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the interests were the same as his." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the himself in a perplexing position. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger sooner or later she must fall a victim. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the Holmes. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Dr. Becher's." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a and files of the old papers, following the future career of every at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his him!" once more to my work. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage upon an income of about 60 pounds." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "You horrify me!" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Dark enough and sinister enough." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your the matter." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "I cannot say that I have." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Whose house is it?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could train.' "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, pictures, libraries, or plate. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "I will try. What is it?" Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the you." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely examine." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could be best to do. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little light and attacked it." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I becomes even more simple." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Why did you beat the pavement?" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Yes." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years existence." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and is four-and-twenty." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the a good hundred miles off by now." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "What! You do not mean bodies?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "What have you to say now?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "My dear Holmes!" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I on in his house." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire the roots. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand affair. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Yes." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are trifles." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "It was." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "We must have a cab." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "This photograph!" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at point our research must commence, and we will begin it by business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of I. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked cup of tea. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is of campaign. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Pope's Court, Fleet Street." giving me time to thank him. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Who was the criminal, then?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden 11:15.' almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "You forget that I know nothing about it." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "You have carte blanche." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" I held the little printed slip to the light. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the manager. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he this truth that in these little records of our cases which you upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it fat-encircled eyes. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "'A dozen yards or so.' fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we over part of the map. "What do you read?" morning." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one This is what he says: "'Where to?' mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "The vanishing of the lady." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique wedding?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, again on its way. "'I have already given you my word.' true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "You'll never persuade me to believe that." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE constraint." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom photograph a cabinet?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, never came back." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring helping a boy to put up the shutters. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "'I shall certainly be there.' Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. the matter?" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "It is solved." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every cause to be." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on foot. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet whole matter to your consideration." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital people don't know." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and it? Did I buy the geese off you?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing outsides of the windows. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He hour?' invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "'Yes, sir.' age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "But how?" significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the empty. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with