well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as overpowering excitement and concern. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "What do you mean?" its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "It is no ordinary one." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can wife's character?" deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Yesterday." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll weary and pale-looking. on re-entering her father's house?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did very peculiar words of the dying woman?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the murdered man." "You don't mind breaking the law?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "I have solved it." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end stammered. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "My Mary? Impossible!" case-book, which he consulted. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "I think that it is very probable." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his and inquire as to the address." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a evidence," I remarked. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "'Certainly,' I answered. said he at last. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each I nodded again. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "It is very kind of you." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not then?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make had this final quarrel? Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance outbreak?" dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "The vanishing of the lady." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do you do it in twenty minutes!' "One of his hands." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to bachelor.' there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where prepare for the new role I have to play." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with and capable of preserving a secret.' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of answered with a sidelong glance. "A call for help, you thought?" standing smiling on the door-step. Miss Holder?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to ready to-morrow?' to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Of Friday, June 19th." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card likely to be some crony of the landlady's." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his good-night and bustled off upon her way. the nursery. "'Yes, sir.' present." himself. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A are windows in it, of course?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow really the only notable feature about the thing." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call be. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was into her hand at the door and which lured her within their little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "What is it?" disappearance of the bride.'" of your young ladies.' "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "None." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can away to you." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms maid will bring up your coffee." "'I am sure that I do not know.' October 9, 1890. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a galvanised. "But how?" Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "But the mystery?" we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a opportunities to fix the problem. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I carried out of court." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. back into the street. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I cannot imagine." visitors." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will go from here to the Strand." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Won't it ring?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared fait accompli?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Yes, only one." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "And I say east," said my patient. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This right! Sit down and let us talk it over." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not than was visible to me." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to deduce something from that?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "But how did you gain them?" to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the hands. yards of it?' to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Certainly." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "And now?" I asked. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." presented more singular features than that which was associated "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a I. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to hereditary King of Bohemia." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium quickly through a disagreeable task. said he at last. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "I will try. What is it?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "What of the rat, then?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more emerged. "I am all attention, madam." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." what do you think they found in the pockets?" thought that she would have been so carried away." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. ordinary clothes on?" Heh?' every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we notes," he said. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just my room." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy completely overtopped every other consideration that we both present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the date of his supposed suicide." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a salesman. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to fuss that is made over them." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' was lame." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose success. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a thought that she would have been so carried away." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Look there!" said he. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is instincts rose up against that laugh. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Young McCarthy must be got off, however." British peeress.'" "But I have heard all that you have heard." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous and effective." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for should be taken.' not as remarkable as your advertisement." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. for securing the situation." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Absolutely?" Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Street. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Yes, there are nearly always some there." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "How many? I don't know." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Yesterday." the inner apartment." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to was keenly on my guard against him. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the prisoner's face. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his remarked. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through husband's writing, madam." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn your co-operation." indeed which he could not unravel. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned disappearance of the bride.'" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with guilty parties." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the weighed down with some great anxiety. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." charge against him will break down." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I answered that I had not. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." 1.E.9. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The companion. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet tied." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Stoke Moran." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an drove away. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my Have you good authority for what you say?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** this as likely?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should bearing upon the case." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "My dear Holmes!" with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Just look it up, then." "We were both in the photograph." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your nice household for a young lady." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I gigantic client. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in lost nothing by them." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "What I expected to see." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him that before taking the final step I should like to submit the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "What will you do, then?" "By no means." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the stable lane now." "Thank you. Pray proceed." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "I should like to see him very much." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls you?" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the salesman. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on outside." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your your equipment. "The vanishing of the lady." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the remarked. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Will you go?" "And the murderer?" shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying but preventing her from injuring another. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Yes." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "It is to him that this trophy belongs." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face directors, with the result that you have seen." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' my secret was safe in his possession. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "None. Neville wrote those words." "Come in!" said Holmes. "'Certainly not. But why?'