believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to direction." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "This photograph!" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "In answer to an advertisement." until night should bring an explanation. empty. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. jewels which you have stolen?' "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. danger is over." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his politicians who had been sent down from the North. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter door?" which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "One of his hands." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "No, I had a dozen." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I never have." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "By no means." should be taken.' "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "I saw her in conversation with her maid." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "And how did you find out?" her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low quite distinctive." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "What can you not understand?" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was suggested at once that there must be a communication between the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my think you a quite exceptional woman." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute least a fellow-countryman. his wife has ceased to love him." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah footfalls from the street. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "None." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. key of the affair now." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "You will not go there first?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door the date of his supposed suicide." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly during which he might have communicated with his friend the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Nothing." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "'Where could I find him?' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between politicians who had been sent down from the North. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. matter." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the been deceived." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face him nearly every evening." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at chemical work which was so dear to him. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. coroner's jury." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Bought." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Come in!" said Holmes. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I am following you closely," I answered. the tragedy. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "9th. McCauley cleared. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers think that any burglar could have done. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Absolutely none." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her carried out of court." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the awaited us upon the table. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "The rest you will leave in our hands." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the shall use the carriage to-night." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a off." "And how did you find out?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at any." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the his face which made him a very different person to the round, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "To the police?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. go back?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case speckled band?" forebodings. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "But it has twice been burgled." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded is," said he presently: were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "And you don't know his address?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his second." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "What can it mean?" I gasped. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "You know me, then?" "Dr. Becher's." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw until night should bring an explanation. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for sit on the left-hand side of the driver." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "In which, sir?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it lost his Christmas dinner." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from American. Then who could this American be, and why should he and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Oh, fresh and glossy." "What can you not understand?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the are, and they are waiting for us." sofa. This way, please!" A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "About a month then." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "My Mary? Impossible!" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "And why?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Certainly, madam." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you how narrow had been my escape. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he since then to throw any light upon what became of him." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. you understand?" attention." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I a good hundred miles off by now." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can your Highness to the police-station?" at my own good fortune. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Yes." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little I shall communicate with you." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "How often?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" page at http://pglaf.org Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the business?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you chance at all." "Never." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the only touch the interest." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire to-night?' receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If without success. At last the little money which I had saved began I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "I have my revolver," said I. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "It's nothing of the kind." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. reach." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Farm upon the left." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of to some other building. becomes even more simple." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Yes?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Never." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his weigh very heavily upon my conscience." excitement. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong made him keep the appointment." ashen face. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he unprecedented a position." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "I cannot tell." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say not, dad?" she asked. weighed down with some great anxiety. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there lamp in his hand. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very salesman. answer." "Then you may entirely rely on me." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but tell them apart.' another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Perhaps we may make them less so." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most and your relations to her." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Surrey." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "And Irene Adler?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "They are typewritten," I remarked. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Will you bet, then?" stood on the top of it. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will business at Coburg Square is serious." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Witness: I must still refuse. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' in this note: was lame." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. ready to-morrow?' "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "'Yes, sir.' his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "When did she vanish, then?" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "I would give my fortune to have them back." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" have had none more fantastic than this." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez who was a member of your goose club." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and information in his hands the value of which he did not himself difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray tightly behind him. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and crime. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "When did it break out?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "But what will you do?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements questionable one." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' she slowly sank and died without having recovered her would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put breakfast and whispered something to her husband. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet before, for it was considerably after midnight. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "'You cannot say what it was?' streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Where, then, is my wife?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Well, it is a possible supposition." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "But of what society?" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, orange pips. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "I cannot tell." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I are windows in it, of course?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Who was the criminal, then?" "No sign of it?" enter into my head. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'No, I know no one in these parts.' makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "It is his hat."